What is OPS in Baseball? Understanding On-Base Plus Slugging

Introduction: The Role of Advanced Stats in Baseball

Baseball has always been a game of numbers, but modern analysis goes far beyond traditional stats like batting average or RBIs. Today, fans and teams alike use sabermetrics—advanced statistics that reveal a deeper view of player performance. One of the most popular of these metrics is On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS). Whether you’re a casual fan or a seasoned stathead, understanding what OPS is and how it’s calculated can greatly enrich your appreciation of the game.

Simply put, OPS helps combine two critical aspects of hitting: the ability to get on base and the power to rack up extra bases. It’s now one of the go-to stats for quickly assessing a hitter’s overall offensive contribution. In this article, we’ll explore what OPS in baseball is, how to calculate it, why it often matters more than batting average, and even what it means if a player has a 500 OPS. By the end, you’ll have a firm grasp on this foundational sabermetric tool.

What is OPS in Baseball? Breaking Down On-Base Plus Slugging

OPS stands for On-Base Plus Slugging, a statistic that sums up two separate performance measures:

• On-Base Percentage (OBP) – How frequently a player reaches base (via hits, walks, or being hit by a pitch).
• Slugging Percentage (SLG) – The total bases a player earns per at-bat, giving more weight to extra-base hits.

By adding OBP and SLG together, OPS gives you one convenient number that captures both getting on base and hitting for power. Here’s why it matters:

• It rewards hitters who walk a lot and avoid making outs.
• It values players who collect doubles, triples, and home runs.
• It’s more comprehensive than just batting average, which doesn’t distinguish between singles and home runs.

An OPS can range from around .500 (very poor) to well above 1.000 (elite). In modern baseball discussions, you’ll often see commentators citing OPS as a quick “snapshot” of a player’s offensive productivity.

How to Calculate OPS: A Simple Formula with Examples

Calculating OPS is surprisingly straightforward. The formula is:

• On-Base Percentage (OBP) measures all the times a player safely reaches base

• Slugging Percentage (SLG) calculates total bases divided by at-bats:

Variables

Here's a quick rundown of the variables typically used in these formulas:

• H (Hits): All hits (singles, doubles, triples, home runs).
• BB (Walks/Base on Balls): Times a player reaches base via walk.
• HBP (Hit By Pitch): Times a player is awarded first base after being hit by the ball.
• AB (At-Bats): Official at-bats (not including walks, hit-by-pitch, etc.).
• SF (Sacrifice Flies): Fly ball outs that allow runners to advance or score.

For slugging percentage (SLG), you’ll also see total bases broken down as:

• 1B (Singles)
• 2B (Doubles)
• 3B (Triples)
• HR (Home Runs)

Example

Once you have OBP and SLG, you simply add them together. For example:

• Player A
  • OBP = .350
  • SLG = .450
  • OPS = .350 + .450 = .800
• Player B
  • OBP = .320
  • SLG = .500
  • OPS = .320 + .500 = .820

Both players are above average, but you can see that Player B has more power while Player A is slightly better at reaching base. This ability to blend on-base skills and power into a single stat is what makes OPS so valuable to fans and analysts.

What is a Good OPS in Baseball? Comparing Player Performance

Determining what constitutes a “good” OPS often depends on the league average and the overall offensive environment. Generally speaking:

• Above 1.000 – An elite performance typically reserved for superstars.
• .900+ – Excellent; this usually places a player among the top hitters in the league.
• .800+ – Solidly above average and often All-Star level.
• Around .700–.750 – Roughly league average in most modern seasons.
• Below .700 – Below average.
• Below .600 – Very poor, indicating serious struggles at the plate.

To add historical context, legendary hitters like Babe Ruth and Ted Williams posted career OPS numbers well over 1.000. In a typical MLB season, only a select few players sustain an OPS above that threshold. Meanwhile, an OPS around .800 usually signifies a strong offensive contributor capable of driving in runs or anchoring a lineup spot.

It’s also worth noting that context matters. In “dead-ball” eras or certain low-offense periods, an OPS around .770 might be excellent. In higher-scoring years, .770 might be closer to average. But as a rule of thumb, .800 and above is “good,” .900 is “great,” and 1.000 is “elite.”

OPS vs. Other Stats: Why It Matters More Than Batting Average

Why focus on OPS rather than a more familiar stat like batting average (AVG)? The short answer is that batting average doesn’t tell you much about a hitter’s discipline at the plate or his power. Here are the key benefits of OPS:

• Incorporates Walks and Hit-by-Pitch: A batter with a lower average but a high walk rate can have a strong OPS by boosting OBP.
• Weights Extra-Base Hits: While batting average treats all hits equally, slugging percentage (part of OPS) credits doubles, triples, and home runs.
• Correlates Better with Run Production: Teams that get on base and hit for power tend to score the most runs, and OPS directly combines those two traits.

For example, two players could each have a .270 batting average, but:

• One is a singles hitter with a .320 OBP and a .380 SLG (OPS = .700).
• Another is a power threat with a .340 OBP and a .500 SLG (OPS = .840).

They look similar in terms of batting average, yet their overall offensive impact is vastly different. OPS highlights that gap and shows you how much each player truly contributes to scoring runs.

500 OPS in Baseball: What Does It Mean?

When you see a .500 OPS, it generally signals serious offensive struggles. For a non-pitcher, an OPS that low is almost untenable at the Major League level. Here’s why:

• Well Below Average: Most seasons, the league-average OPS sits around .700–.730. A .500 OPS is drastically lower.
• Lack of Power and On-Base Skills: To get a .500 OPS, a player likely has very few walks and extra-base hits. For instance, they might have an OBP near .250 and a SLG near .250, combining for .500.
• Limited MLB Role: Extended slumps can happen, but if a position player posts a .500 OPS over many at-bats, teams usually opt to make a change—either giving the hitter time in the minors to adjust or reducing their playing time.

In historical contexts, pitchers at the plate often recorded OPS values near .300–.400 when the National League still let them hit. That underscores how .500 is associated more with weak hitting or temporary slumps than with everyday big-league success.

Final Thoughts

OPS has become a cornerstone statistic because it combines two essential dimensions of hitting—getting on base and hitting for power. With just one number, it’s easier to gauge whether a player is merely a slap hitter, a powerhouse slugger, or somewhere in between. Whether you’re exploring the deeper world of sabermetrics or simply want a quick read on a hitter’s overall effectiveness, OPS is a reliable guide.

If you’re eager to delve deeper into advanced baseball metrics and stay updated on the latest insights, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter. We deliver fresh analysis, in-depth stories, and weekly updates on the players and numbers shaping today’s game—all designed to help you appreciate baseball on a whole new level.

Wikipedia, s.v. "On-base percentage," last modified March 13, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On-base_percentage.