OPS Calculator (On-Base Plus Slugging) - Calculate MLB Offensive Stats

What is OPS?

OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging) is baseball's most comprehensive and widely-used offensive statistic. It combines a player's ability to reach base (On-Base Percentage) with their power hitting ability (Slugging Percentage) into a single, easy-to-understand number. The formula is simple: OPS = OBP + SLG.

While not perfect, OPS captures the two most important offensive skills—getting on base and hitting for power—making it an excellent quick evaluation tool. New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge led MLB in 2024 with a 1.159 OPS, demonstrating both elite on-base skills (.458 OBP) and historic power (.701 SLG).

2024 MLB Average OPS: .717 (down from .728 in 2021, reflecting recent offensive suppression across baseball)

OPS Tier Ratings & MLB Benchmarks

Understanding where your OPS ranks helps you evaluate offensive performance at any level. Here are the standardized tiers used by scouts, analysts, and front offices:

OPS Range	Tier Rating	Description	2024 Example
.950+	Elite / MVP	Historically rare, Hall of Fame caliber offensive production	Aaron Judge (1.159)
.900-.949	Superstar	Perennial All-Star, top-5 offensive player	Shohei Ohtani (.965)
.850-.899	Excellent	All-Star level, top 15-20 hitter in baseball	Bryce Harper (.898)
.800-.849	Very Good	Above-average starter, productive middle-of-order bat	Manny Machado (.782)
.750-.799	Good / Above Average	Solid everyday player, near MLB average in modern game	Bo Bichette (.748)
.700-.749	Average	Replacement level starter, role player production	Mike Yastrzemski (.710)
.650-.699	Below Average	Below MLB standards, bench/defensive specialist	Tyler Stephenson (.689)
Below .650	Poor	Struggling hitter, needs significant improvement	Typical pitcher offensive production

Important Context: These benchmarks apply to MLB. Youth, college, and minor league standards are adjusted based on competition level. An .800 OPS in high school would be outstanding, while in MLB it's merely "good."

How to Calculate OPS: Step-by-Step Formula

Calculating OPS requires first determining On-Base Percentage (OBP) and Slugging Percentage (SLG), then adding them together. Here's the complete breakdown:

Real Example: Atlanta Braves slugger Marcell Ozuna in 2024 had 180 H, 45 BB, 3 HBP, 597 AB, 3 SF, 102 singles, 39 doubles, 0 triples, and 39 HR. His OBP = (180 + 45 + 3) / (597 + 45 + 3 + 3) = .352. His SLG = (102 + 78 + 0 + 156) / 597 = .546. Therefore, his OPS = .352 + .546 = .898 (Elite offensive season).

OPS vs. Other Offensive Statistics

OPS sits at the center of modern offensive evaluation, but it's important to understand how it compares to other metrics and what it might miss:

Historic OPS Achievements & Records

Baseball history is defined by legendary offensive seasons and careers measured by OPS. Here are the benchmarks that separate the good from the immortal:

• All-Time Single Season Record: Barry Bonds (1.422 OPS in 2004) - The most dominant offensive season ever recorded, with a .609 OBP and .812 SLG
• Career Leader: Babe Ruth (1.164 career OPS) - The Sultan of Swat's career mark remains untouchable nearly a century later, 80+ points ahead of second place
• Modern Excellence: Mike Trout (.999 career OPS through 2024) - On pace for a top-10 all-time career mark despite recent injuries
• 2024 Historic Season: Aaron Judge (1.159 OPS) - The highest OPS by a right-handed hitter since Barry Bonds in 2004
• 1.000 OPS Club: Only 9 players in MLB history have achieved a career OPS over 1.000 (min. 3000 PA) - Ruth, Williams, Gehrig, Foxx, Bonds, Trout, Hornsby, Mantle, and Thomas

These achievements demonstrate why OPS became the gold standard for offensive evaluation. When you see a 1.000+ OPS, you're witnessing historically elite performance that happens only a few times per generation. An .850 OPS makes you an All-Star, and .900+ means you're among the game's best hitters.

Why OPS Matters: Winning Baseball & Player Value

OPS correlates directly with runs scored and team winning percentage. Research shows that team OPS is one of the strongest predictors of offensive success, explaining approximately 90% of the variation in runs scored. Here's why OPS matters for winning baseball:

• Run Production: Teams with high OPS score more runs. In 2024, the Los Angeles Dodgers led MLB in team OPS (.754) and runs scored (842), winning the World Series
• Player Evaluation: Front offices use OPS as a quick filter for identifying undervalued talent. A high OPS with a low batting average often reveals overlooked power/patience players
• Contract Value: OPS heavily influences player salaries. The difference between .750 and .850 OPS can mean millions of dollars in contract negotiations
• Positional Context: An .800 OPS is excellent for a catcher or shortstop but merely average for a first baseman or corner outfielder. Context matters

Modern Example: Philadelphia Phillies built their 2022-2024 playoff runs around high-OPS bats like Bryce Harper (.898 OPS in 2024), Kyle Schwarber (.844), and Nick Castellanos (.741). Their philosophy: prioritize on-base skills and power over batting average, and the runs will follow. It worked—they made three straight NLCS appearances.

What is a good OPS in baseball?

In MLB, an OPS above .800 is considered very good, .850+ is excellent All-Star level, and .900+ is elite MVP-caliber production. The 2024 MLB average was .717, so anything above that represents above-average offensive performance. Context matters though—an .800 OPS is outstanding for a catcher but merely good for a first baseman.

Is a .900 OPS elite?

Yes! A .900 OPS represents elite, All-Star level offensive production. In 2024, only 19 qualified MLB hitters achieved .900+ OPS out of 150+ regulars (top 12%). Players at this level are typically MVP candidates, franchise cornerstones, and the most feared hitters in baseball. Examples include Shohei Ohtani (.965), Bryce Harper (.898), and Yordan Alvarez (.950).

How do you calculate OPS from batting stats?

First calculate OBP = (H + BB + HBP) / (AB + BB + HBP + SF). Then calculate SLG = Total Bases / AB, where Total Bases = (1B × 1) + (2B × 2) + (3B × 3) + (HR × 4). Finally, OPS = OBP + SLG. Our advanced calculator does all this automatically when you enter your raw statistics.

What's the difference between OPS and OPS+?

OPS is the raw number (OBP + SLG), while OPS+ adjusts for ballpark factors and league average, with 100 being average. An OPS+ of 150 means the player is 50% better than league average after accounting for park effects. OPS+ is better for comparing players across different eras and ballparks. For example, Colorado Rockies players typically have higher OPS due to altitude, but similar OPS+ to players in pitcher-friendly parks.

Who has the highest OPS in MLB history?

Babe Ruth holds the all-time career OPS record at 1.164, a mark that has stood for nearly 100 years and likely will never be broken. For single-season OPS, Barry Bonds holds the record with 1.422 in 2004. Ted Williams (1.116 career), Lou Gehrig (1.080), and Jimmie Foxx (1.038) round out the top legendary sluggers. Active leader is Mike Trout at .999 career OPS.

Is OBP or SLG more important in OPS?

Research shows that OBP is approximately 1.8 times more valuable than SLG in terms of run production, which is why advanced metrics like wOBA weight OBP more heavily. However, OPS treats them equally (simple addition), which is actually a slight flaw in the statistic. That said, OPS still correlates extremely well (r² ≈ 0.95) with actual run production, making it highly effective despite this theoretical imperfection. For practical player evaluation, OPS remains an excellent quick metric.