Slugging — SLG, or slugging percentage — measures a hitter’s power. Unlike batting average, which treats all hits equally, slugging gives more value to a double than a single, and even more to a triple or a home run.
How is it calculated?
SLG = Total bases ÷ At-bats
A single is worth 1 base, a double 2, a triple 3 and a home run 4. That’s why slugging can top 1.000 in theory (though it almost never happens over a full season).
What is a good slugging?
| SLG | Level |
|---|---|
| .550 or higher | Elite power |
| .500 – .549 | Very good |
| .430 – .499 | Average |
| Below .400 | Little power |
Examples with players
- Manny Ramírez and Albert Pujols kept elite slugging for years thanks to their consistent power.
- Juan González was one of the great Latino sluggers of the 1990s.
[Live data — MLB API] Current-season slugging leaders: (filled in automatically).
Leaders and records
- Single-season record: Barry Bonds, with .863 in 2001.
- Best career slugging: Babe Ruth, with .690.
Why it matters
Slugging is the best simple way to measure power and is the other half of OPS. Together with OBP, it completes the portrait of a hitter: getting on base and hitting hard.
Related stats
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference from batting average?
Average counts all hits equally; slugging weights extra-base hits more.
What is a good slugging?
.500 is very good and .550 or higher is elite power.
