MLB Stats Glossary
Key Batting, Pitching & Overall Metrics
A beginner-friendly guide to MLB statistics like OPS, wRC+, and FIP. Learn what each metric means, how to read it, and see real examples from Shohei Ohtani and Seiya Suzuki.
打Batting Stats
OPS
On-base Plus Slugging
The most widely used single hitting stat. Combines on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG). Higher is better.
Player Examples (2025)
Shohei Ohtani1.050
Seiya Suzuki.838
Masataka Yoshida.792wRC+
Weighted Runs Created Plus
Measures how many runs a batter creates, park-adjusted and scaled so 100 = league average. The higher above 100, the better.
Player Examples (2025)
Shohei Ohtani195Seiya Suzuki132Masataka Yoshida118Barrel%
Barrel Percentage
Percentage of batted balls hit at 98+ mph with optimal launch angle (~26-30°). Strongly predicts home runs and extra-base hits.
Player Examples (2025)
Shohei Ohtani19%Seiya Suzuki10%Masataka Yoshida8%ISO
Isolated Power
Measures raw power by removing singles from slugging percentage. Captures only extra-base hit contribution.
Player Examples (2025)
Shohei Ohtani.358Seiya Suzuki.213Masataka Yoshida.172BABIP
Batting Average on Balls In Play
Measures how often balls in play become hits, excluding HR, Ks, and BBs. Used to evaluate luck and defense effects. League average is ~.300.
投Pitching Stats
WHIP
Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched
Measures how many baserunners a pitcher allows per inning. Lower is better. Below 1.00 is ace-level.
Player Examples (2025)
Shohei Ohtani0.95
Yoshinobu Yamamoto1.08FIP
Fielding Independent Pitching
Estimates a pitcher's effectiveness using only events they control: strikeouts, walks, and home runs. Removes defensive influence from ERA.
Player Examples (2025)
Shohei Ohtani2.85Yoshinobu Yamamoto3.12K/9
Strikeouts per 9 Innings
How many batters a pitcher would strike out per 9 innings. Higher means more swing-and-miss ability. 10+ is elite.
Player Examples (2025)
Shohei Ohtani11.4Yoshinobu Yamamoto10.8総Overall Metrics
WAR
Wins Above Replacement
The ultimate all-in-one stat. Estimates how many wins a player adds compared to a replacement-level player. Includes offense, defense, and baserunning. 5+ is All-Star level.
Player Examples (2025)
Shohei Ohtani10.5Seiya Suzuki3.8Masataka Yoshida2.1Yoshinobu Yamamoto4.2Benchmark Guide
Reference benchmarks for league average, good, and elite performance levels.
| Metric | League Avg | Good | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPS | .720 | .820 | .950+ |
| wRC+ | 100 | 130 | 160+ |
| Barrel% | 6% | 10% | 15%+ |
| ISO | .140 | .200 | .250+ |
| WHIP | 1.30 | 1.10 | < 1.00 |
| FIP | 4.20 | 3.50 | < 3.00 |
| K/9 | 8.5 | 10.0 | 12.0+ |
| WAR | 2.0 | 5.0 | 8.0+ |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is OPS and why is it more useful than batting average?
OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) combines on-base percentage and slugging percentage to measure overall offensive value. Unlike batting average which only counts hits, OPS accounts for walks and extra-base hits. The MLB average is around .720, and 1.000+ is elite.
Q. Is a wRC+ of 100+ considered good?
wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus) uses 100 as the league average. Anything above 100 means above-average performance. 130+ is All-Star caliber, 160+ is MVP territory. It adjusts for ballpark effects, making fair cross-era comparisons possible.
Q. What's the difference between ERA and FIP?
ERA (Earned Run Average) reflects actual runs allowed, which is influenced by defense and luck. FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) uses only strikeouts, walks, and home runs to isolate what the pitcher actually controlled. If a pitcher's FIP is lower than ERA, the defense may have cost them runs.