STAT SPOTLIGHTS
OPS
OPS, or On-base Plus Slugging, is one of baseball’s most popular “all-in-one” hitting stats. It simply adds together a player’s On-Base Percentage (OBP) — how often they reach base — and their Slugging Percentage (SLG) — how much power they hit for.
Why it matters: OPS balances patience and power. A hitter who draws walks but doesn’t slug much will have a decent OBP but low SLG. A free-swinging slugger might have the opposite. OPS captures both skills at once.
Benchmarks:
.900+ → Superstar level
.800–.899 → Above average
.700–.799 → Average
Below .700 → Below average
For example, in 2024, the league average OPS was about .720, while top hitters like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge posted OPS marks over .950, showing just how dominant they were compared to the average major leaguer.
Aaron Judge's OPS of 1.159 led the MLB in 2024. MLB Film Room
WAR
WAR, or Wins Above Replacement, is one of the most important advanced stats in baseball. It tries to answer one simple question: How many more wins is this player worth compared to a “replacement-level” player (like a minor-league call-up or bench filler)?
How it works: WAR combines a player’s contributions in hitting, baserunning, and fielding (for position players), or pitching dominance and innings (for pitchers). It then translates those into a number of wins.
Benchmarks:
8+ WAR → MVP-level
5–7 WAR → All-Star level
2–4 WAR → Solid starter
0 WAR → Replacement level
For example, in 2023, Shohei Ohtani led MLB with 10.1 WAR, meaning he was worth about 10 wins more than a replacement-level player — an MVP-worthy season.
Shohei Ohtani led the MLB in WAR for his work at the plate and on the mound in 2023. MLB Film Room