wRC+, or weighted runs created plus, rates a hitter’s total offense on a scale where 100 is exactly league average. Every point above or below 100 is one percent better or worse than average, so a 150 wRC+ means a hitter created 50 percent more runs than a typical hitter. It adjusts for ballpark and league, which makes it one of the fairest ways to compare hitters across teams and eras.
Why It Beats Batting Average and OPS
| Stat | Weakness | How wRC+ fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Batting average | Ignores walks and power | Credits every way of reaching base |
| RBI | Depends on teammates getting on | Measures only the hitter’s own production |
| OPS | Weights on base and slugging equally, and is not park adjusted | Uses run values and adjusts for park and league |
How to Read It
Because 100 is always average, wRC+ reads instantly. A catcher at 105 is a plus bat for the position, while a first baseman at 105 is merely fine because the position is loaded with hitters. For the older stat most fans know, see what is OPS, and for an all in one value number, see WAR.
Related
What is BABIP · What is FIP · What is OPS · What is WAR
Scale and method from the FanGraphs Sabermetrics Library.