sluggingOPS

SluggingOPS is a proposed baseball statistic intended to measure a player's combined on-base ability and slugging ability by multiplying slugging percentage (SLG) and on-base percentage (OBP). It is not an officially recognized metric but has appeared in exploratory analyses to examine how players perform when both on-base skills and power are considered together.

Calculation and interpretation

SluggingOPS is defined as sluggingOPS = OBP × SLG. For example, a player with OBP of 0.380 and SLG of 0.520 would have a sluggingOPS of 0.1976. Values are typically modest numbers in the range of about 0.15 to 0.35 for many players, with elite performances yielding higher figures. The metric emphasizes players who excel in both reaching base and hitting for power, rather than focusing on one aspect alone.

Relation to OPS and limitations

Because OPS equals OBP plus SLG, sluggingOPS and OPS capture different aspects of a player's hitting profile. SluggingOPS penalizes players who are strong in one component but weak in the other and rewards balanced performers. However, it is less intuitive than OPS and lacks extensive historical context, making it less suitable for long-running comparisons. It can be sensitive to small sample sizes and does not have a standardized interpretation in professional analytics.

Use and context

SluggingOPS may be used in exploratory analyses to highlight synergistic performance in on-base and slugging terms or to compare players with similar OPS but different distributions of OBP and SLG. It should be considered alongside other metrics such as OPS, wOBA, and traditional counting stats to form a comprehensive evaluation.

See also: OPS, OBP, SLG, wOBA.