Ever heard an announcer mention a player’s .850 OPS and wondered if that’s actually good?
I’ve analyzed baseball stats for over a decade. An OPS of .800 or higher is considered good in MLB. Above .900 is elite, .700–.799 is average, and below .700 is below average.
Let me show you exactly what these numbers mean and why understanding OPS will completely change how you watch baseball.
What Does OPS Stand For?
OPS stands for On-Base Plus Slugging. It combines two critical stats: OBP (On-Base Percentage) and SLG (Slugging Percentage).
The formula is beautifully simple: OPS = OBP + SLG.
Here’s what each part measures:
- On-Base Percentage (OBP): How often a player reaches base (hits, walks, hit by pitch)
- Slugging Percentage (SLG): The power behind those hits (singles vs. doubles vs. home runs)
When you add them together, you get a complete picture of a hitter’s offensive performance. A player who gets on base frequently and hits for power will have an elite OPS.
The OPS Scale: What the Numbers Really Mean
Based on my years of tracking MLB statistics, here’s how I break down OPS performance categories:
| OPS Range | Rating | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 1.000+ | MVP-caliber | Elite hitter, dominant offensive force |
| .900–.999 | Elite | All-Star caliber, top 10% of league |
| .800–.899 | Very Good | Above average hitter, quality starter |
| .700–.799 | Average | League average OPS, solid contributor |
| .600–.699 | Below Average | Struggling offensively, defensive specialist |
| Below .600 | Poor | Rarely sustainable in MLB |
The league average OPS typically hovers around .720–.740 in the modern era, though this fluctuates based on the seasonal offensive environment.
Here’s what I’ve personally discovered through testing: The real dividing line isn’t just .800—it’s understanding that position context completely changes what “good” means. A catcher with a .720 OPS might be more valuable than an outfielder with .750, something most ranking websites completely ignore.
How to Calculate OPS: Step-by-Step Formula
Let me walk you through a real calculation so you understand how this works.
Step 1: Calculate On-Base Percentage (OBP)
OBP = (Hits + Walks + Hit By Pitch) / (At-Bats + Walks + Hit By Pitch + Sacrifice Flies)
Step 2: Calculate Slugging Percentage (SLG)
SLG = Total Bases / At-Bats
Total bases are calculated as: (Singles × 1) + (Doubles × 2) + (Triples × 3) + (Home Runs × 4)
Step 3: Add Them Together
OPS = OBP + SLG
Real Example
Let’s say a player in 100 at-bats gets:
- 30 hits (25 singles, 3 doubles, 2 home runs)
- 12 walks
- 1 hit by pitch
OBP Calculation: (30 + 12 + 1) / (100 + 12 + 1 + 0) = 43/113 = .381
SLG Calculation: Total bases = (25 × 1) + (3 × 2) + (2 × 4) = 39 SLG = 39/100 = .390
OPS = .381 + .390 = .771
That’s a respectable, average OPS for a typical MLB hitter.
Position-Specific OPS Standards: The Missing Context
This is where most analysis falls short. Not all positions are created equal when evaluating OPS.
Defensive positions have different offensive expectations. A shortstop who plays Gold Glove defense with a .750 OPS is incredibly valuable. That same .750 from a first baseman? That’s disappointing.
Here’s what I’ve learned from analyzing position-by-position data:
Catcher
Good OPS: .720+
Catchers have the lowest offensive expectations because their defensive responsibilities are so demanding. Managing a pitching staff, blocking balls, and controlling the running game takes enormous energy.
In my experience watching games, a catcher with .700+ OPS is an offensive asset. Someone like J.T. Realmuto consistently posts .800+ OPS numbers, making him elite at the position.
Middle Infielders (Shortstop/Second Base)
Good OPS: .750+
Traditionally, middle infielders were valued for defense first. That’s changing—modern shortstops like Bobby Witt Jr. and Gunnar Henderson are posting .850+ OPS while playing premium defense.
Still, a shortstop with .750 OPS and excellent defense is a quality everyday player.
Third Base
Good OPS: .800+
Third basemen are expected to provide run production. It’s a power position where .800 OPS is the baseline for a quality starter.
Corner Outfield/First Base/DH
Good OPS: .850+
These are offensive positions. Players here must hit or they don’t play. First basemen and designated hitters especially need to produce—.900+ OPS is becoming the standard for elite performance.
When I evaluate these positions, anything below .800 raises red flags unless there are exceptional defensive or baserunning contributions.
Center Field
Good OPS: .770+
Center fielders blend defensive value with offensive expectations. The position requires speed and range, so the offensive bar is slightly lower than corner outfielders.
A center fielder posting .800+ OPS with quality defense is an All-Star candidate.
Current 2025 OPS Leaders: Real-World Examples
Looking at actual players helps contextualize these numbers. Here are some standouts from the 2025 season:
Elite Tier (1.000+ OPS):
- Aaron Judge: 1.144 OPS (Yankees RF)
- Shohei Ohtani: 1.014 OPS (Dodgers DH)
These are MVP-caliber performances. Judge’s 1.144 OPS represents historically great hitting—he’s getting on base at an elite rate while crushing home runs.
Very Good Tier (.900–.999 OPS):
- Juan Soto: .989 OPS
- Freddie Freeman: .932 OPS
These players are All-Stars providing massive offensive value every game.
Good Tier (.800–.899 OPS):
- Kyle Schwarber: .865 OPS
- Jose Ramirez: .847 OPS
Solid everyday players who are above average hitters and significant contributors to winning teams.
Notice how position matters here. Judge’s 1.144 as a right fielder is phenomenal, but if a first baseman or DH posted .800, teams would be disappointed given the positional expectations.
OPS vs. Advanced Metrics: What’s Better?
OPS is powerful, but it’s not perfect. Let me break down how it compares to more sophisticated stats.
OPS+ (Adjusted OPS)
OPS+ adjusts for park factor and era.
A 100 OPS+ is league average. 130 means 30% better than average. This park-adjusted metric accounts for hitter-friendly parks (like Coors Field) versus pitcher-friendly parks (like Oracle Park).
In my analysis, OPS+ is superior when comparing players across different eras or ballparks. Barry Bonds’ 2002 season had an insane 268 OPS+—nearly three times better than an average hitter.
wOBA (weighted On-Base Average)
wOBA weighs each offensive event by its actual run value.
Unlike OPS, which simply adds OBP and SLG, wOBA assigns precise values: a walk is worth less than a single, a single less than a double, and so on. It’s scaled to look like On-Base Percentage for easy interpretation.
The weighted on-base average provides a more accurate measure of offensive value than raw OPS.
wRC+ (weighted Runs Created Plus)
wRC+ is the gold standard for modern analysis.
It combines wOBA with park adjustments and era context, then scales it where 100 equals average. A 150 wRC+ means a player creates 50% more runs created than average.
FanGraphs uses wRC+ as their primary offensive metric, and for good reason—it’s more accurate than OPS for measuring true run production.
Why I Still Use OPS
Despite these advanced metrics being more precise, OPS remains my starting point because:
- It’s simple to calculate and understand
- Historical data is widely available
- It correlates strongly with runs scored (about 90% correlation)
- You can quickly evaluate players without complex adjustments
For casual fans and quick assessments, OPS does the job. For deep analysis, I move to wRC+ and wOBA.
OPS Biases and Limitations You Should Know
OPS isn’t perfect. Here are the OPS biases I’ve noticed:
It overvalues slugging slightly. OBP and SLG are added as equals, but getting on base is actually more valuable than the formula suggests. A .400 OBP is worth more than a .400 SLG.
It ignores baserunning and defense. A player with .850 OPS who’s a terrible baserunner and fielder provides less value than the number suggests.
Small sample sizes are misleading. Early-season OPS can be deceiving. Always check plate appearances—anything under 100 PA should be viewed skeptically.
Park effects aren’t included. A .900 OPS at Coors Field (high altitude, lots of runs) isn’t the same as .900 at Petco Park (pitcher-friendly).
It doesn’t predict future performance. OPS is descriptive, not predictive. Predictive metrics like exit velocity and hard-hit rate from MLB Statcast are better for projections.
Historical Context: How OPS Has Changed Over Time
Understanding era matters when evaluating OPS.
Dead Ball Era (1900s–1910s): OPS rarely exceeded .800 due to different baseball construction and playing styles.
Live Ball Era (1920s–1960s): Babe Ruth’s career 1.164 OPS revolutionized what was possible. His peak seasons exceeded 1.300 OPS, numbers that remain nearly untouchable.
Expansion Era (1970s–1990s): League average OPS stabilized around .700–.720.
Steroid Era (1990s–2000s): Offensive explosion. League average OPS climbed to .760+. Barry Bonds posted a mind-boggling 1.422 OPS in 2004.
Modern Era (2010s–2025): We’re in an era-neutral context where .720–.740 is typical. Power hitting is emphasized (launch angle revolution), but strikeout rates have increased, creating more all-or-nothing hitters.
When comparing players across eras, always use era-adjusted stats like OPS+ or check the league average for that season.
Breaking Down OPS Components: What Really Drives Success
Let me show you how the pieces fit together.
On-Base Skills (OBP Component)
Great hitters excel at:
- Plate discipline: Low strikeout rate (K rate) under 20%
- Walk rate (BB rate): Elite hitters walk 12%+ of plate appearances
- Contact rate: Putting the ball in play consistently
- Batting average: While imperfect, it’s still part of getting on base
Players with superior walk-to-strikeout ratios (above 0.60) tend to have high OBP and therefore strong OPS.
Power Production (SLG Component)
Slugging percentage components include:
- Extra-base hits: Doubles, triples, home runs add more total bases
- Isolated power (ISO): SLG minus Batting Average (BA), measuring pure power
- Hard-hit rate and exit velocity: Statcast measures show correlation with slugging
- Launch angle: Modern hitters optimize swing paths for home runs
A contact hitter might post .280 BA with few home runs, resulting in modest SLG. A power hitter launches 40 home runs with .240 BA, creating elite SLG. Both can achieve good OPS through different paths.
OPS in Different Situations: When Context Changes Everything
OPS isn’t static—it varies based on numerous factors:
Split Stats and Handedness
Left/right splits matter enormously. Some hitters have 100+ point OPS differences facing opposite-handed pitching versus same-handed matchup situations.
When evaluating a player’s true skill, check their situational OPS against both lefties and righties.
Batting Order Position
Players hitting 3rd or 4th (the heart of the batting order) usually have the best OPS. Leadoff hitters might sacrifice power for OBP. Bottom-of-order hitters often show the lowest OPS.
Lineup protection also affects individual OPS—hitting behind elite batters gives better pitches to hit.
Situational Hitting
Pinch-hitting OPS is typically lower due to limited preparation. Situational OPS with runners in scoring position reveals clutch performance.
In my analysis, career OPS generally exceeds seasonal situational OPS because sample size effects smooth out peaks and valleys.
Sample Size Matters
Here’s a critical insight: Never trust OPS over small sample periods. A player can hit .400 with 1.200 OPS for a week, but a 162-game pace always reveals truth.
I always check plate appearances. Under 50 PA? Noise. 200+ PA? Now we’re seeing real skill.
How Projection Systems View OPS
Major projection systems like ZiPS and Steamer use sophisticated algorithms to forecast OPS.
They incorporate:
- Historical performance trends (3-year weighted averages)
- Age curves (peak typically 27–29 years old)
- Batted ball data (exit velocity, launch angle)
- Park factors and league context
- Regression toward replacement level
A rookie OPS of .850 might project to .800 as pitchers adjust. A veteran OPS declining from .900 to .820 might signal age-related decline.
FanGraphs publishes these projections, and they’re remarkably accurate—usually within 20–30 OPS points for established players.
BABIP and OPS: The Luck Factor
Batting Average on Balls In Play (BABIP) reveals sustainability.
League average BABIP is around .300. If a player posts .850 OPS with .380 BABIP, regression is coming—they’re getting lucky on batted balls. If they’re at .850 OPS with .250 BABIP, they’re unlucky and due for improvement.
I always cross-reference BABIP when evaluating whether an OPS is sustainable or fluky.
Real-World Fantasy Baseball and Betting Applications
OPS matters beyond just watching games.
Fantasy Baseball: Many leagues use OPS as a category. Targeting players with:
- High walk rates (BB rate)
- 90th percentile exit velocity
- Favorable park factors
- Historical peak OPS trends
Sports Betting: Run production correlates with team OPS. Teams posting .780+ team cumulative OPS win significantly more games. When betting run totals, I check seasonal trend patterns in team offensive performance.
Comparing Legends: Career OPS Rankings
Let’s talk about the all-time greats.
Top 5 Career OPS (minimum 3,000 PA):
- Babe Ruth: 1.164
- Ted Williams: 1.116
- Josh Gibson: 1.103 (Negro Leagues, estimates vary)
- Lou Gehrig: 1.080
- Barry Bonds: 1.051
These are the legends. Ruth’s 1.164 career OPS over 8,399 plate appearances is almost incomprehensible—he averaged elite hitter production every single season for 22 years.
For modern comparison, Mike Trout’s career OPS sits around .976—incredible, but still short of the all-time greats.
Common Mistakes When Interpreting OPS
I’ve seen these errors repeatedly:
Mistake 1: Ignoring Position A .750 OPS isn’t universally “average hitter” status—it’s excellent for a catcher, poor for a first baseman.
Mistake 2: Overreacting to Hot/Cold Streaks Baseball has variance. A two-week slump dropping OPS from .850 to .790 doesn’t mean a player has suddenly forgotten how to hit.
Mistake 3: Comparing Across Eras Without Context A .950 OPS in 2002 (Steroid Era) isn’t the same as .950 in 2025. Always check league-adjusted numbers or use OPS+.
Mistake 4: Forgetting Defense Exists An .850 OPS shortstop with Gold Glove defense is more valuable than an .880 OPS DH who can’t field.
Mistake 5: Treating OPS as Predictive OPS describes what happened. For projection, use Statcast metrics (exit velocity, hard-hit rate) and predictive metrics from Baseball-Reference or FanGraphs.
What I’ve Learned: Final Thoughts
After years of studying baseball statistics, here’s my honest take:
OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging) is the perfect starting point. It’s simple, widely available, and highly correlative with winning. When someone asks “Is this player good?” OPS gives you 80% of the answer immediately.
But don’t stop there. Understanding position context, checking OPS+ for park adjustments, and referencing advanced metrics like wRC+ (weighted Runs Created Plus) gives you the complete picture.
The .800 threshold is real. Players who consistently post .800–.899 OPS are valuable offensive contributors, regardless of position. Above .900+ OPS, you’re looking at elite talent. Below .700 OPS, there better be exceptional defensive value.
Most importantly, OPS helps you appreciate what makes great hitters great. It’s not just batting average or home runs alone—it’s the combination of on-base skills and hitting for power that drives run production and wins games.
Whether you’re watching casually, playing fantasy baseball, or doing deep analytical dives, understanding offensive performance through OPS will completely change how you evaluate hitters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is considered a good OPS in MLB?
An OPS of .800 or higher is considered good in Major League Baseball. Players posting .900+ are elite hitter, All-Star caliber performers. The league average typically falls around .720–.740, so anything above average is .750+, representing solid offensive value.
How is OPS calculated in baseball?
OPS equals On-Base Percentage (OBP) plus Slugging Percentage (SLG). OBP = (Hits + Walks + Hit By Pitch) / (At-Bats + Walks + HBP + Sacrifice Flies). SLG = Total Bases / At-Bats. Add these two numbers together to get OPS.
Is OPS better than batting average?
Yes, OPS is far superior to Batting Average (BA) for evaluating hitters. Batting average ignores walks and power, while OPS captures both on-base ability and slugging. A .300 hitter with no power hitter qualities or walks provides less offensive value than a .250 hitter who walks frequently and hits home runs.
What’s the difference between OPS and OPS+?
OPS is the raw statistic (OBP + SLG), while OPS+ (Adjusted OPS) is league-adjusted and park factor-corrected. OPS+ scales to 100 (league average OPS), so 130 OPS+ means 30% better than average. OPS+ is better for comparing players across different ballparks and eras.
Why do catchers have lower OPS than other positions?
Catchers have the most physically demanding defensive role, requiring them to squat for 130+ pitches per game while managing pitchers and controlling the running game. This physical toll impacts offensive performance, making .700+ OPS exceptional for the position while that same number would be disappointing for a corner outfielder.