Before discussing the components and calculations that factor into the baseball slugging percentage, we must first define and understand what exactly this term means in the sport, how it came about, and why it remains important in evaluating player performances.
The Definition and Importance of Baseball Slugging Percentage
Baseball slugging percentage, often abbreviated as SLG, is a key statistic used to evaluate a baseball player’s batting productivity. It gives more weight to extra-base hits (i.e., doubles, triples, and home runs) unlike batting average, which considers all hits to be equal. Consequently, it gives a more comprehensive overview of a player’s batting ability.