The Ultimate Guide to OPS: Unlocking the Power of Batting Performance

What is OPS?

OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging) is a sabermetric statistic that measures a batter's overall offensive production. It combines two key metrics: on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG).

How is OPS Calculated?

OPS = (OBP + SLG)

• OBP measures a batter's ability to get on base: OBP = (Hits + Walks + Hit by Pitch) / (At Bats + Walks + Hit by Pitch + Sacrifice Flies)
• SLG measures a batter's power: SLG = (Total Bases) / (At Bats)

Interpreting OPS

A good OPS value is generally considered to be above .800. The higher the OPS, the more productive the batter is. Here's a breakdown of OPS ranges:

• Elite: 1.000 or higher (e.g., Mike Trout, Bryce Harper)
• Very Good: .900-.999 (e.g., Mookie Betts, Christian Yelich)
• Good: .800-.899 (e.g., Javier Baez, JT Realmuto)
• Average: .700-.799 (e.g., J.D. Martinez, Freddie Freeman)
• Below Average: Below .700 (e.g., Adam Frazier, Jose Abreu)

OPS Leaders

Here are the top 5 OPS leaders in MLB history:

OPS vs. Other Batting Statistics

OPS is a more comprehensive measure of batting performance than other traditional statistics such as batting average, home runs, or RBIs. It combines both getting on base and hitting for power.

Comparison with Batting Average: Batting average only measures the percentage of times a batter hits the ball safely. It does not account for walks, hit by pitches, or extra base hits.

Comparison with Home Runs: Home runs are valuable, but they are not the only way to contribute offensively. OPS gives credit to batters who get on base and hit for extra bases even if they don't hit home runs.

OPS Strategies

To improve OPS, batters can focus on:

• Increasing OBP: Drawing walks, getting hit by pitches, and hitting line drives that result in singles or doubles.
• Increasing SLG: Hitting for home runs, doubles, and triples.

Pros and Cons of OPS

Pros:

• Comprehensive measure of offensive production
• Accounts for both getting on base and hitting for power
• Can be used to compare batters across different positions and eras

Cons:

• Can be misleading in some situations (e.g., a batter with a high OBP but low SLG may have a high OPS but not be a good hitter)
• Ignores some aspects of offensive production, such as stolen bases and fielding

Case Studies

Case 1:

Aaron Judge: Judge had an OPS of 1.019 in 2017 when he hit 52 home runs. In 2019, his OPS dropped to .965, but he still hit 41 home runs. This shows that while OPS is a good measure of overall production, it can be misleading in some cases, especially when a batter hits for a lot of home runs.

Case 2:

Freddie Freeman: Freeman has consistently been a high OPS batter throughout his career. In 2020, he had an OPS of .940 and led the National League in batting average. This shows the importance of consistency and a balanced approach to hitting.

Case 3:

Jose Abreu: Abreu is a power hitter who has averaged an OPS of .889 over the past five seasons. However, his OPS dropped to .844 in 2021. This shows that even the best hitters can have down years, which is why it's important to look at OPS over multiple seasons.

Conclusion

OPS is a valuable tool for evaluating batting performance. It provides a comprehensive measure of both getting on base and hitting for power. However, it's important to interpret OPS in context and consider other factors such as consistency, stolen bases, and fielding. By understanding OPS and its limitations, you can better appreciate the contributions of batters and make informed decisions about their value.