Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+)

Definition

wRC+ is a stat that measures a hitter's overall offensive value compared to league average. It takes all of a hitter's contributions at the plate and translates that to his impact on runs created for his team.

wRC+ attempts to credit the hitter for the appropriate value of each outcome of a plate appearance -- a home run is worth more than a single, for example -- rather than treat all hits equally (as in batting average) or all times on base equally (as in on-base percentage).

A wRC+ of 100 means a league-average hitter, and a wRC+ of 150 means a hitter is 50% better than league average. Every point of wRC+ above or below 100 is equal to one percentage point above or below average.

Weighted Runs Created Plus also accounts for important external factors, like ballpark or era. For example, a player who plays his home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field (home of the Rockies) will have a lower wRC+ than a player who posts identical stats at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park (home of the Mariners).

wRC+ is similar to OPS+, which adjusts a player's OPS to league average in the same way, showing one overall number compared to 100. A hitter's wRC+ and OPS+ for a given season will almost always look very similar.

Examples

Aaron Judge led Major League hitters with a 204 wRC+ in 2025 en route to his American League MVP Award, meaning he was more than twice as good as a league average hitter.

Barry Bonds posted a wRC+ of 235 in his 73-homer season in 2001 -- but it was actually even higher the next season, 2002, when he posted a 244 wRC+.

Babe Ruth had a 194 wRC+ for his career, meaning he was 94% better than an average hitter.

The formula

More information on the calculation of the wRC+ formula can be found here.

Why it's useful

wRC+ quantifies run creation and normalizes it, so we can compare players who play in different ballparks and even different eras. It also puts offensive value on a simple scale where every hitter can be compared to the league average at a glance.