What is ops in baseball?

In baseball, "ops" refers to On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS). It's a single number that combines a player's on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG) to give a better overall picture of their offensive ability than either statistic alone. A higher OPS indicates a better hitter.

Here's a breakdown:

• On-Base Percentage (OBP): Measures how often a batter reaches base. It includes hits, walks, and hit-by-pitches, but excludes sacrifices. A higher OBP is generally considered more important than a high batting average because it reflects a player's ability to get on base by any means necessary.

• Slugging Percentage (SLG): Measures the power of a hitter. It takes into account the number of bases gained on hits. A single is worth 1, a double is 2, a triple is 3, and a home run is 4. SLG is calculated by dividing total bases by at-bats.

How OPS is calculated:

OPS = OBP + SLG

Why OPS is valuable:

• Holistic View: OPS considers both a player's ability to get on base and their power, providing a more complete picture of their offensive contribution than either OBP or SLG in isolation.
• Easy Comparison: It's a single number that allows for easy comparison between players, regardless of league or era.
• Predictive Power: OPS has shown a strong correlation with a player's overall offensive performance and run scoring.

Important Considerations:

• League Context: OPS should always be considered in the context of the league in which a player plays. League-wide averages can significantly influence individual OPS numbers.
• Park Factors: Ballparks can favor hitters or pitchers, affecting OPS. A player's OPS might be higher in a hitter-friendly park and lower in a pitcher-friendly park.
• Not Perfect: While OPS is a valuable statistic, it's not a perfect measure of offensive value. It doesn't account for factors like stolen bases, defensive ability, or baserunning. More advanced metrics like wRC+ (weighted Runs Created Plus) offer a more nuanced view of offensive contribution.

In short, OPS is a widely used and readily understood statistic that provides a quick and fairly accurate assessment of a baseball player's overall offensive capabilities.