Stats

Slugging Percentage (SLG) — Definition, Formula & Youth Benchmarks

Slugging Percentage (SLG) measures a batter's power by weighting extra-base hits more heavily than singles. Formula: Total Bases ÷ At-Bats. A .400 SLG means the batter averages 0.4 total bases per at-bat. Unlike batting average, SLG distinguishes between a single and a home run — a player who hits mostly doubles and triples will have a higher SLG than one who hits only singles, even with the same batting average.

The Formula

SLG = Total Bases ÷ At-Bats

Total Bases calculation:

Single = 1 base
Double = 2 bases
Triple = 3 bases
Home Run = 4 bases

Example: A player with 25 singles, 8 doubles, 2 triples, and 1 home run in 100 at-bats:

Total Bases = (25 × 1) + (8 × 2) + (2 × 3) + (1 × 4) = 25 + 16 + 6 + 4 = 51

SLG = 51 ÷ 100 = .510

What SLG Tells You (and What It Doesn't)

It tells you about power. A player with high SLG hits the ball hard and drives it for extra bases. At 13U and above, SLG starts to meaningfully differentiate between contact hitters (high AVG, low SLG) and power hitters (moderate AVG, high SLG).

It doesn't tell you about plate discipline. SLG doesn't account for walks or hit-by-pitches. A player who never walks but hits doubles has high SLG but limited on-base ability. That's why OPS (which combines OBP and SLG) is a better overall offensive measure.

It's noisy at younger ages. At 10U, most extra-base hits happen because of outfield errors, not genuine power. A "triple" that involves two overthrows isn't a power indicator. SLG becomes more meaningful at 12U+ when players start consistently hitting balls to the outfield on the fly.

Youth SLG Benchmarks

Level	Below Average	Average	Above Average	Elite
10U Rec	Below .250	.250-.400	.400-.550	.550+
12U Competitive	Below .300	.300-.450	.450-.600	.600+
14U Travel	Below .300	.300-.450	.450-.600	.600+

Full age benchmarks →

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When to Start Tracking SLG

SLG becomes useful when players start generating genuine extra-base hits — usually around 11U-12U for competitive players and 13U-14U for rec players. Before that, focus on contact rate, OBP, and quality at-bats. What to track at 10U-11U → · What to track at 12U →

How Rizzler Uses SLG

Rizzler's AI Batting Order uses SLG alongside OBP to place hitters optimally. High-SLG players are valued in the 3-5 spots where driving in runners matters most. The AI balances SLG with OBP using OPS as the combined metric.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between batting average and slugging?

Batting average treats all hits equally — a single and a home run both count as one hit. SLG weights them differently: a home run is worth four times a single. SLG rewards power.

Can SLG be higher than 1.000?

Yes. If a player hit a home run in every at-bat, their SLG would be 4.000. In practice, a youth season SLG over .800 is exceptional.

Is SLG useful for a 9-year-old?

Not really. Most 9U "extra-base hits" are the result of fielding mistakes, not genuine power. Focus on contact quality and plate discipline at younger ages.

Back to Batting Stats → · OBP → · OPS → · Stats Hub →