How to Calculate OPS in Baseball

Baseball has been a game of statistics since its beginning. However, a baseball player is no longer measured only by statistics such as batting average, home runs and runs batted. Two other statistics, slugging percentage and on base percentage, have risen in popularity. On base percentage plus slugging (OPS) combines both statistics. Calculating OPS allows you to gauge the overall offensive effectiveness of the hitter.

Instructions

1. Know what OPS is. On base percentage is derived from adding together the totals of two other statistics, slugging percentage and on base percentage. To calculate OPS, you must first know how to calculate the two stats it's based on.

2. Figure the number of times a hitter has reached base on his own merit by adding together his hits, walks and the number of times he's reached base by being hit by a pitch. Ignore the times he's reached base on errors and fielder's choices.

3. Divide this number by the total times the player has come up to the plate. To get this number, add his official at bats, walks and sacrifice flies. Round the number down to three decimal places. The result is the players on base percentage.

4. Add up the total number of bases the player has gotten by hitting the ball. A single is one base, a double two bases, a triple three bases and a home run four bases. Again, ignore errors and fielder's choices, because the batter did not get a base as a result of a hit on these plays.

5. Take this number and divide it by the player's official at bats. Round the result down to three decimal places. This is the player's slugging percentage.

6. Calculate the player's OPS, by adding together his on base percentage and his slugging percentage. The result should be three decimal places. For example, if a player has an on base percentage of .405 and a slugging percentage of .550, his OPS is .955.