1. What is On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS)?

OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) is a baseball statistic that combines a player's on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG) to measure their overall offensive performance. It provides a simple way to evaluate a player's ability to both get on base and hit for power.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple OPS formula:

Where:

• \( OBP \) — On-base percentage (hits + walks + HBP) / (at bats + walks + HBP + SF)
• \( SLG \) — Slugging percentage (total bases) / (at bats)

Explanation: OPS combines two important offensive metrics into a single number that reflects both a player's ability to get on base and their power hitting.

3. Importance of OPS Calculation

Details: OPS is widely used in baseball analytics as it correlates well with run production. It's more comprehensive than either OBP or SLG alone and helps evaluate a player's overall offensive contribution.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter valid OBP (typically between 0.200 and 0.500) and SLG (typically between 0.200 and 0.800) values. The calculator will sum them to produce the OPS.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good OPS in baseball?
A: Generally, an OPS of .800 or above is considered good, .900+ is excellent, and 1.000+ is outstanding.

Q2: How does OPS compare to wOBA?
A: While OPS is simple to calculate, wOBA (Weighted On-Base Average) is more precise as it properly weights each offensive event based on its run value.

Q3: Can OPS be negative?
A: No, since both OBP and SLG are positive values, OPS will always be positive.

Q4: What are the limitations of OPS?
A: OPS treats OBP and SLG as equally valuable (1:1 ratio), though OBP is actually more valuable in terms of run production. It also doesn't account for baserunning or situational hitting.

Q5: Who has the highest career OPS in MLB history?
A: Babe Ruth holds the record with a career OPS of 1.1636.