What is a good ops in baseball?

A good ops in baseball refers to a high On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS) statistic. OPS is a single number that combines two important offensive metrics:

• On-Base Percentage (OBP): This measures how often a batter reaches base. A high OBP indicates a player's ability to get on base by any means – hits, walks, hit by pitches. It's considered a very valuable skill because it sets the stage for scoring runs.

• Slugging Percentage (SLG): This measures the power of a batter's hits. It considers the total bases gained per at-bat. A high SLG indicates a player's ability to hit for extra bases (doubles, triples, home runs).

What makes a good OPS?

There's no single magic number, as context matters (league average, position, etc.). However, generally:

• .800 or higher is considered excellent. Players consistently achieving this are among the league's best hitters.
• .750-.799 is very good. These hitters are above average and significant contributors to their team's offense.
• .700-.749 is above average. A solid hitter.
• .650-.699 is average. A league-average hitter.
• Below .650 is below average.

Why is OPS important?

OPS is a valuable statistic because it gives a concise summary of a hitter's overall offensive contribution. It combines both the ability to get on base (OBP) and the ability to hit for power (SLG), which are both crucial for scoring runs. While it's not perfect (some argue it doesn't perfectly weight OBP and SLG), it's a widely used and understood metric for evaluating hitters.

Things to keep in mind:

• Context is key: A .800 OPS in the 1960s is different from a .800 OPS today due to changes in the game and league averages.
• Park factors: Some ballparks favor hitters more than others. A hitter's OPS might be inflated or deflated depending on where they play their home games.
• League average: Always compare a player's OPS to the league average to see how they stack up against their peers.

In short, a good OPS signifies a hitter who is both proficient at getting on base and capable of hitting for power, making them a valuable asset to any baseball team.