Baseball Stats · Sabermetrics · Analytics
What Is OPS in Baseball? — On-Base Plus Slugging Explained
OPS combines how often a player gets on base with how much power they have. A .800 OPS is good. A .900 is great. Here's everything you need to know.Quick Answer
OPS = On-Base Percentage + Slugging Percentage. A good OPS is .800+.
OPS measures two things at once: how often a player gets on base (OBP) and how much power they hit with (SLG). The MLB league average OPS is roughly .730–.750 in most seasons. Above .800 is above average. Above .900 is excellent. Above 1.000 is MVP-level. Babe Ruth's career OPS of 1.164 is the highest in baseball history.
What Does OPS Stand For?
OPS stands for On-Base Plus Slugging — a statistic that combines a player's on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG) into a single number. The idea is simple: the two most important things a hitter can do are get on base and hit for power. OPS captures both in one figure.
OPS = OBP + SLG
OPS isn't an official MLB statistic — you won't find it in the traditional rulebook stats — but it's widely used on scoreboards, Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, and broadcasting. It became mainstream during the Moneyball era of the early 2000s when front offices started looking for better ways to evaluate hitters beyond batting average.
What Is a Good OPS in Baseball?
1.000+
Elite — MVP Territory
Rarely achieved over a full season. Any player posting 1.000+ is among the best hitters in baseball that year.
.900–.999
Excellent — All-Star Level
Top-tier offensive production. A player at .900+ is typically one of the better hitters in the league.
.800–.899
Above Average — Solid Hitter
Meaningfully above the league average. A reliable offensive contributor in any lineup.
.700–.799
Average — League Median Range
The MLB league average sits in this range most seasons (~.730–.750). Not a weakness but not a strength.
.600–.699
Below Average
Offensive liability. Players at this level need to contribute elite defense or baserunning to justify a roster spot.
Below .600
Poor — Mendoza Line Territory
A player posting this OPS is struggling significantly at the plate at the MLB level.
Bill James's 7-category OPS system
In 2009, sabermetrics pioneer Bill James refined the OPS scale into seven letter grades: A (.900+, great), B (.833–.899, very good), C (.767–.832, above average), D (.700–.766, average), E (.633–.699, below average), F (.567–.632, poor), and G (below .566, very poor). This framework mirrors a traditional grading scale and makes the benchmarks more intuitive — a .750 OPS is a "D" in James's system, meaning average, not failing.
How to Calculate OPS — Worked Example
Here's a real-world calculation using a hypothetical player's season stats to show exactly how OPS is derived.
First calculate OBP: (Hits + Walks + Hit by Pitch) ÷ (At-Bats + Walks + Hit by Pitch + Sacrifice Flies)
Then calculate SLG: Total Bases ÷ At-Bats (Single = 1 base, Double = 2, Triple = 3, Home Run = 4)
Hits: 140 | Walks: 55 | HBP: 5 | Sac Flies: 6 | At-Bats: 480
OBP = (140 + 55 + 5) ÷ (480 + 55 + 5 + 6)= .364
Total Bases: 280 (e.g. 80 singles, 30 doubles, 5 triples, 25 HR)
SLG = 280 ÷ 480= .583
OPS = .364 + .583.947
A .947 OPS puts this player firmly in excellent/All-Star territory. The calculation reveals that they're both getting on base consistently (.364 OBP is well above average) and hitting for real power (.583 SLG reflects significant extra-base production).
OPS by Position — Context Matters
One thing most OPS articles miss entirely: the same OPS means different things at different defensive positions. A first baseman is expected to hit. A shortstop provides elite defensive value regardless. Evaluating a .750 OPS the same way for both is misleading.
| Position | Average MLB OPS | What "Good" Looks Like | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catcher (C) | ~.700 | .750+ | Defense-first position — offensive expectations are lower than most spots |
| First Base (1B) | ~.800 | .860+ | Premium offensive position — a below-average OPS here is a significant problem |
| Second Base (2B) | ~.720 | .770+ | Middle infield — balance of offense and defense, lower offensive bar than corners |
| Shortstop (SS) | ~.720 | .770+ | Elite defense commands a roster spot even at lower OPS — good SS offense is a genuine bonus |
| Third Base (3B) | ~.770 | .820+ | Corner infield — offensive expectations higher than up the middle |
| Left Field (LF) | ~.760 | .820+ | Premium offensive outfield spot |
| Center Field (CF) | ~.730 | .790+ | Elite CF defense justifies lower offensive production |
| Right Field (RF) | ~.780 | .840+ | Power position — among the highest offensive expectations in the outfield |
| Designated Hitter (DH) | ~.820 | .880+ | No defensive responsibility whatsoever — OPS bar is the highest of any position |
What Is OBP and SLG? — The Components of OPS
On-Base Percentage (OBP)
OBP measures how often a player reaches base per plate appearance — counting hits, walks, and hit-by-pitches. Sacrifice flies count against the denominator but sacrifice bunts do not. OBP rewards plate discipline: a player who draws a lot of walks shows up well in OBP even if they're not a great pure hitter. The MLB average OBP is typically around .315–.330.
Slugging Percentage (SLG)
SLG measures total bases per at-bat, valuing extra-base hits more heavily than singles. A single is worth 1, a double 2, a triple 3, a home run 4. A player who hits a lot of home runs will have a high SLG even if they don't get on base as frequently. The MLB average SLG is typically around .400–.430.
OPS's known flaw — OBP is weighted equally to SLG even though it's more valuable
The main criticism of OPS is that it treats OBP and SLG as equally important — just adds them together — when research shows OBP is roughly 1.8x more valuable for run scoring than SLG. A walk and a single both result in the same OBP increase but OPS doesn't account for this discrepancy. This is why advanced metrics like wOBA and wRC+ exist — they weight each component by its actual run-creation value. For quick evaluation, OPS is still excellent. For precise analysis, wOBA is more accurate.
What Is OPS+?
OPS+ Explained
OPS+ is OPS adjusted for ballpark and league context.
100 = exactly league average. 150 = 50% better than league average. 80 = 20% below average. OPS+ is the better stat for comparing players across different eras, parks, and leagues — a .900 OPS at Coors Field means something very different than a .900 OPS at Dodger Stadium.
OPS+ normalizes a player's OPS relative to the league average and their home ballpark. It's found on Baseball Reference alongside standard batting stats. When comparing hitters from different eras or evaluating whether a player is truly elite in context, OPS+ is the more reliable number.
OPS vs. Other Advanced Stats
| Stat | What It Measures | Good Benchmark | Advantage Over OPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPS | OBP + SLG combined | .800+ | Simple, widely available, quick reference |
| OPS+ | OPS adjusted for park and league | 125+ (25% above avg) | Enables era/park comparison — better for historical context |
| wOBA | Weighted on-base average — each event valued by run creation | .340+ | Correctly weights walks, singles, extra-base hits by actual run value |
| wRC+ | Weighted runs created, park and league adjusted | 130+ (30% above avg) | Most complete offensive rate stat — accounts for all context factors |
| Batting Average (BA) | Hits per at-bat | .280+ | N/A — OPS is strictly more informative than batting average |
Is OPS Still Useful in Modern Baseball?
Yes — and its simplicity is the reason. In a world where Statcast, expected stats, and spin rate measurements have made baseball analytics genuinely complex, OPS remains the fastest useful shorthand for evaluating a hitter. It's on scoreboards, in broadcast graphics, on baseball cards, and on every stats website. Everyone from casual fans to front office analysts uses it.
The knock against it — unequal weighting of OBP and SLG, no ballpark adjustment, no situational context — is real. For precise analysis, wOBA and wRC+ are more accurate. But OPS is to baseball analytics what ERA is to pitching evaluation: not perfect, widely understood, and genuinely useful as a quick read on player quality.
All-Time OPS Leaders in MLB History
| Rank | Player | Career OPS | Era |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Babe Ruth | 1.1636 | 1914–1935 |
| 2 | Ted Williams | 1.1155 | 1939–1960 |
| 3 | Lou Gehrig | 1.0798 | 1923–1939 |
| 4 | Barry Bonds | 1.0512 | 1986–2007 |
| 5 | Jimmie Foxx | 1.0376 | 1925–1945 |
| 6 | Hank Greenberg | 1.0169 | 1930–1947 |
| 7 | Rogers Hornsby | 1.0103 | 1915–1937 |
| 8 | Manny Ramirez | .9960 | 1993–2011 |
| 9 | Mike Trout | .9941 | 2011–present |
| 10 | Aaron Judge | .9824 | 2016–present |
Barry Bonds's single-season record
Barry Bonds posted the highest single-season OPS ever recorded — a 1.422 in 2004 with the San Francisco Giants. His four highest single-season OPS figures (2004, 2002, 2001, 2003) all rank in the top 8 all-time. His 2004 season included a .609 on-base percentage — the highest single-season OBP in modern baseball history — driven in part by 232 walks (120 of which were intentional).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is OPS in baseball?
OPS stands for On-Base Plus Slugging — a statistic that adds a player's on-base percentage (OBP) to their slugging percentage (SLG). It measures both how often a player gets on base and how much power they hit with in a single number. The MLB league average OPS is roughly .730–.750 most seasons.
What is a good OPS in baseball?
An OPS above .800 is above average and considered solid. An OPS above .900 is excellent — All-Star level production. An OPS above 1.000 is elite and puts a player in MVP conversation. The league average is approximately .730–.750 depending on the season. Below .700 is below average; below .600 is poor.
What is the difference between OPS and OPS+?
OPS is the raw combined number — OBP + SLG. OPS+ adjusts that number for ballpark factors and league context, setting the league average at 100. A 150 OPS+ means a player is 50% better than league average after adjusting for their home park. OPS+ is better for comparing players across different eras, stadiums, and leagues.
Who has the highest OPS in baseball history?
Babe Ruth holds the highest career OPS in baseball history at 1.1636. Barry Bonds holds the highest single-season OPS at 1.422 in 2004. Among active players, Aaron Judge consistently ranks among the league leaders in OPS with a career mark above .980.
Is a .700 OPS good in baseball?
A .700 OPS is at the bottom of average range — it's not good but it's not poor. In Bill James's grading system it falls in the "D" range, meaning average. Whether .700 is acceptable depends on the position: a catcher hitting .700 might be fine given their defensive value, while a first baseman or DH hitting .700 is underperforming the offensive expectations for those positions.
Why is OPS better than batting average?
OPS captures two dimensions of hitting performance that batting average ignores entirely: walks (which demonstrate plate discipline and keep innings alive) and power (a home run and a single count the same in batting average but very differently in OPS). A player who hits .260 but walks 100 times and hits 35 home runs is far more valuable than a player who hits .280 with few walks and no power — OPS correctly reflects this, batting average does not.
What is a good OPS for youth and high school baseball?
OPS benchmarks shift significantly at youth levels due to less consistent pitching. At the high school varsity level, an OPS above 1.000 is solid and 1.200+ is excellent. At the travel ball level, OPS is a useful tool for tracking development but should be paired with Quality At Bats percentage to get a full picture of plate approach rather than just outcomes.
The bottom line
OPS is the most useful quick-reference hitting stat in baseball. .800 is good. .900 is excellent. 1.000 is elite. It's not perfect — it weights OBP and SLG equally when OBP is actually more valuable — but it's widely available, instantly meaningful, and tells you far more than batting average alone.
For deeper analysis, pair it with OPS+ for park-adjusted context and wOBA for precise run-creation value. For a quick read on whether a hitter is helping or hurting their team — OPS answers the question.
→ What Is a Good Batting Average? · What Is a Good ERA? · What Is a QAB in Baseball?