On-base plus slugging

In baseball statistics, on-base plus slugging (denoted by OPS) incorporates on base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG). This statistic combines both the ability of a player to get on base and to hit for power. It is very popular in measuring the offensive worth of a player, because it is easy to calculate and has a strong positive correlation, at the team level, with runs per game. An OPS of .900 or higher puts the player in the upper echelon of offensive ability. Typically, the league leader in OPS will hover near the 1.000 mark.

Related Topics:
Baseball statistics - On base percentage - Slugging percentage

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Note that since SLG and OBP are usually given to only three or four digits of precision, those who look for arbitrary accuracy might want to use the following, more accurate formula:

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The Major League Baseball players with a lifetime OPS higher than 1.00 are:

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• Babe Ruth, 1.1636
• Ted Williams, 1.1155
• Lou Gehrig, 1.0798
• Barry Bonds, 1.0533
• Todd Helton, 1.0480
• Jimmie Foxx, 1.0376
• Hank Greenberg, 1.0169
• Rogers Hornsby, 1.0103
• Manny Ramírez, 1.0102

Foxx has the highest career OPS for a right-handed batter.

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The top ten single-season performances in MLB are (all left-handed hitters):

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• Barry Bonds, 1.4217 (2004)
• Barry Bonds, 1.3807 (2002)
• Babe Ruth, 1.3791 (1920)
• Barry Bonds, 1.3785 (2001)
• Babe Ruth, 1.3586 (1921)
• Babe Ruth, 1.3089 (1923)
• Ted Williams, 1.2874 (1941)
• Barry Bonds, 1.2778 (2003)
• Babe Ruth, 1.2582 (1927)
• Ted Williams, 1.2566 (1957)

The highest single-season mark for a right-handed hitter was 1.2449 by Rogers Hornsby in 1925 (13th on the all-time list). Since 1925, the highest single-season OPS for a right-hander is 1.222 by Mark McGwire in 1998.

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OPS+, Adjusted OPS, is a closely related statistic. OPS+ is OPS adjusted for the park and the league the player played in.

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