Power–speed number

Power–speed number or power/speed number (PSN) is a sabermetrics baseball statistic developed by baseball author and analyst Bill James which combines a player's home run and stolen base numbers into one number.^[1]

The formula is:

PSN={\frac {2*HR*SB}{HR+SB}}

.^[1]

(It is the harmonic mean of the two totals.)

Power–speed number is displayed as a number with one digit after the decimal point.

James introduced the power–speed number in his commentary on Bobby Bonds, writing "it is so crafted that a player who does well in both home runs and stolen bases will rate high, and his rating is determined by the balance of the two as well as by the total."^[2]

Leaders

The highest single-season power–speed number was recorded in 2024 by Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases for a power-speed number of 56.39. It was previously held by Ronald Acuña Jr. who hit 41 home runs and stole 73 bases in 2023 to record a power–speed number of 52.51.

The highest career power–speed number belongs to Barry Bonds. Bonds had 762 career home runs and 514 career stolen bases for a career power–speed number of 613.9. Rickey Henderson is second on the career list at 490.4, followed by Willie Mays (447.1), Alex Rodriguez (446.8), Barry's father Bobby Bonds (386.0), and Joe Morgan (385.9).^[3]^[4]

The highest active career power-speed numbers as of 2024 belong to Mike Trout (271.65), Jose Altuve (265.20), and Andrew McCutchen (259.71).^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b Heisman, Dan. "The 10 Biggest Roadblocks to Improvement" (PDF). Chess Cafe. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 4, 2003.
^ Lederer, Rich (July 26, 2004). "Abstracts From The Abstracts". The Baseball Analysts. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
^ "Progressive Leaders & Records for Power-Speed #". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
^ "Thunder and Lightning". Research.sabr.org. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
^ "Active Leaders & Records for Power Speed #". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 6, 2022.

[chesscafe1-1] Heisman, Dan. "The 10 Biggest Roadblocks to Improvement" (PDF). Chess Cafe. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 4, 2003.

[2] Lederer, Rich (July 26, 2004). "Abstracts From The Abstracts". The Baseball Analysts. Retrieved January 24, 2013.

[3] "Progressive Leaders & Records for Power-Speed #". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 24, 2013.

[4] "Thunder and Lightning". Research.sabr.org. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2013.

[5] "Active Leaders & Records for Power Speed #". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 6, 2022.

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v t e Baseball statistics
Batting	Batting average On-base percentage Slugging percentage Hit Single Double Triple Home run Extra-base hit Hits per run Grand slam Total bases RBI Game-winning RBI Walk Bunt Sacrifice bunt Sacrifice fly On-base plus slugging Times on base Walk-to-strikeout ratio Walk percentage
Base running	Run Stolen base Stolen base percentage Caught stealing
Pitching	Win–loss record Innings pitched Pitchers of record Save Hold Run Earned ERA Strikeout Walk Perfect game No-hitter WHIP BB/9 K/9 Quality start Complete game Shutout Wild pitch Strikeout-to-walk ratio Maddux
Fielding	Fielding percentage Assist Putout Error Total chances Fielder's choice Defensive indifference Passed ball
Sabermetrics	Adjusted ERA+ Base runs Batting average on balls in play Batting park factor Catcher's ERA Defensive Runs Saved Exit velocity Extrapolated Runs Fielding independent pitching Game score Isolated Power Jaffe Wins Above Replacement Score Pop time Power–speed number Range factor Runs created Runs produced Secondary average Speed Score NERD Out of zone plays made Ultimate zone rating Value over replacement player Weighted on-base average Wins Above Replacement Win probability added Win Shares