what does ops mean in baseball?

TLDR: OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) is a key baseball statistic that combines on-base percentage and slugging percentage to evaluate a player's overall offensive performance. It provides a comprehensive view of a player's ability to get on base and hit for power, making it a valuable tool for player assessment.

OPS, or On-base Plus Slugging, is a crucial statistic in baseball that measures a player's overall offensive performance by combining on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG). This metric, popularized in the 1980s, offers a more holistic view of a player's offensive capabilities compared to traditional stats like batting average. The calculation of OPS is straightforward: it is the sum of OBP and SLG, expressed as a decimal, with a higher OPS indicating better performance. OPS is particularly useful for evaluating players who excel in both getting on base and hitting for power.

While OPS is a valuable metric, it has limitations, such as equally weighing OBP and SLG despite their differing correlations with scoring runs. Additionally, factors like park effects and situational hitting can impact its accuracy. Despite these limitations, OPS remains a widely used statistic in modern baseball analysis, helping teams and analysts assess players' offensive contributions effectively. As the game evolves, OPS continues to play a significant role in player evaluation alongside more advanced metrics.