1. What is Slugging Percentage?

Slugging percentage (SLG) measures the batting productivity of a hitter by calculating total bases divided by at bats. Unlike batting average, it gives more weight to extra-base hits.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the slugging percentage formula:

Where:

• \( 1B \) — Singles
• \( 2B \) — Doubles
• \( 3B \) — Triples
• \( HR \) — Home runs
• \( AB \) — At bats

Explanation: Each type of hit is weighted by the number of bases gained (1 for single, 2 for double, etc.), then divided by total at bats.

3. Importance of Slugging Percentage

Details: SLG is a key metric in baseball analytics as it measures a hitter's power. Combined with on-base percentage, it forms OPS (On-base Plus Slugging), a comprehensive offensive statistic.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the count of each type of hit (singles, doubles, triples, home runs) and total at bats. All values must be non-negative integers, and at bats must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good slugging percentage?
A: In MLB, .450 is considered good, .550 is excellent, and .300 is poor. The league average typically ranges between .400-.420.

Q2: How does SLG differ from batting average?
A: Batting average counts all hits equally (total hits/at bats), while SLG weights hits by bases gained.

Q3: Can SLG be greater than 1.000?
A: Yes, theoretically if a player gets extra-base hits in every at bat, though this is extremely rare.

Q4: Why is SLG important for team evaluation?
A: Teams with higher SLG tend to score more runs, as extra-base hits drive in multiple runners.

Q5: Who holds the MLB single-season SLG record?
A: Barry Bonds holds the record with .863 in 2001.