When you think of the most dominant hitters of all time, what names come to mind? For most people, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Josh Gibson come first. But what about Jocelyn Alo? That’s right, Oklahoma Sooners softball great Jocelyn Alo can and should be regarded as one of the most dominant hitters of all time, and the data proves it using OPS+.
What is OPS+ and Why Does It Matter for Softball Analytics?
For unfamiliar readers, OPS+ combines a hitter’s on-base and slugging percentages, adjusts for league averages and ballpark effects, and scales the result so 100 represents league average. For example, Aaron Judge’s 215 OPS+ for the 2025 season means he was 115% better than the league-average hitter. Pretty good, right? Now let’s talk about Jocelyn Alo.
Jocelyn Alo vs. the All-Time MLB OPS+ Leaders
To calculate OPS+ for Alo, it is important to use only conference games and conference averages to ensure an even playing field. While this results in fewer plate appearances, the results are still staggering when comparing to all-time MLB single-season OPS+ leaders. Josh Gibson and Barry Bonds make up the entire top five in MLB history, and Alo had two seasons that easily clear them.
Data from Sports Reference (n.d.-b). Visualization generated using ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2026).
The Plate Appearance Argument
You can make the argument that Alo had significantly fewer plate appearances in each season, and that would be a valid one. But let’s take Alo’s career OPS+ and compare it to the same MLB single-season OPS+ leaders.
Data from Sports Reference (n.d.-b). Visualization generated using ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2026).
Josh Gibson’s all-time 1943 season consisted of 302 plate appearances. For her career in conference play, Alo totaled 308.
Professional Experience
You can also make the argument that Alo played at the collegiate level, but at the time, NCAA softball provided the highest level of consistent competition. Alo’s professional experience consists of only a two-week 2024 AUX Softball tournament, where she easily led the competition with a 243 OPS+ across 44 plate appearances. No matter who the competition is, Alo is the standard for softball hitters.
What About Kendall Wells?
I would be remiss if I did not mention Oklahoma’s Kendall Wells, who finished the 2026 season with a whopping 39 home runs and 1.508 OPS as a freshman. This incredible season can be compared to Alo’s freshman campaign using OPS+ to compare how each performed relative to the average conference hitter. Alo’s 229 OPS+ in her 2018 freshman year easily eclipses Wells’ 2026 OPS+ of 193, although Wells’ season is still incredible and should be highly regarded. The question that remains for Wells is: can she elevate her game each successive season the way Alo did to establish herself as an all-time great?
What About Megan Grant’s Record-Breaking Season?
“But what about Megan Grant? She set the single-season home run record this year! Her OPS was almost 2.000!” I can hear those comments now, and they must be addressed. Grant’s record-setting 2026 season is unforgettable, but how does it compare to Jocelyn Alo’s accomplishments? Grant’s OPS+ this year was 285, which is a remarkable achievement. However, Jocelyn Alo’s OPS+ was 294 for her entire career, not just in her senior season. Her senior season OPS+ was 415.
Data derived from internal calculations using proprietary Samford University Softball records. Visualization generated using ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2026).
The Verdict: Jocelyn Alo is the Standard
Am I trying to diminish the accomplishments of Kendall Wells and Megan Grant? Absolutely not. Both players are extraordinary talents who deserve every bit of recognition they receive.
But the data tells a story that cannot be ignored. What I am trying to do is rightfully recognize the greatness of Jocelyn Alo. When we see softball or baseball players putting up “video game numbers,” I would argue the proper nickname for that player should not be “Barry Bonds.” It should be “Jocelyn Alo.”
About the Author
Tucker Whittington is an MBA student concentrating in Sports Business and Data Analytics and serves as the lead analyst for Samford University’s softball team. He is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and earned his undergraduate degree in Finance from Auburn University. He is passionate about the art of pitching in baseball and softball, with a focus on pitch design, pitch sequencing, and pitcher deception.
To contact him, email jtwhitt@fastmail.fm.
