Nolan Arenado vs Josh Donaldson: Career Stats Comparison
Nolan Arenado has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Nolan Arenado has played 2013–present as a hitter; Josh Donaldson played 2010–2023 as a hitter.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
Nolan Arenado (2013–present) and Josh Donaldson (2010–2023) — both broke in during the 2010s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Nolan Arenado has 2,057 hits and 383 home runs through October 6, 2026; Josh Donaldson finished with 1,310 hits and 279 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Nolan Arenado, with 383 to Josh Donaldson's 279.
- Who had the higher OPS? Josh Donaldson, with .847 to Nolan Arenado's .843.
- Who had the higher batting average? Nolan Arenado, with .280 to Josh Donaldson's .261.
- Who had more hits? Nolan Arenado, with 2,057 to Josh Donaldson's 1,310.
- Who drove in more runs? Nolan Arenado, with 1,270 to Josh Donaldson's 816.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Nolan Arenado, with 21,230 career PIV to Josh Donaldson's 18,424.
Nolan Arenado
Josh Donaldson
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Nolan Arenado and Josh Donaldson. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 14 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other one is a counting total on which fewer is not an achievement, so no one is awarded it. Counting stats reward longevity, and strikeouts are left unmarked because a longer career accumulates more of them. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Nolan Arenado is still active — his totals below are current through October 6, 2026.
| Statistic | Nolan Arenado | Josh Donaldson |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 1,939 | 1,384 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,340 | 5,022 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,072 | 816 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,057 | 1,310 |
| Doubles | Leads: 430 | 287 |
| Triples | Leads: 35 | 12 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 383 | 279 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,270 | 816 |
| Walks | 629 | Leads: 725 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,214 | 1,221 |
| Stolen Bases | 35 | Leads: 40 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .280 | .261 |
| On-Base % | .338 | Leads: .358 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .505 | .489 |
| OPS | .843 | Leads: .847 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Nolan Arenado leads Josh Donaldson 21,230 to 18,424 — driven by per-season impact — 1,633 PIV per season to 1,228 — rather than by longevity, since Nolan Arenado played 13 seasons to Josh Donaldson's 15. PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
PIV is computed through the 2025 season. The career totals on this page include 2026 to date, so PIV does not yet reflect the 2026 season.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by OPS among qualified workloads (300+ at-bats).
Nolan Arenado — top 3 seasons by OPS
Josh Donaldson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Nolan Arenado leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Josh Donaldson owns stolen bases, OBP, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Nolan Arenado. PIV agrees: Nolan Arenado grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Nolan Arenado and Josh Donaldson careers compare
Nolan Arenado and Josh Donaldson were active at the same time between 2013 and 2023. With 1,939 games against 1,384 across 13 and 15 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Josh Donaldson comes out ahead, it is in walks (725 to 629), stolen bases (40 to 35), and on-base percentage (.358 to .338). Nolan Arenado struck out more than walked (1,214 to 629); Josh Donaldson struck out more than walked (1,221 to 725). In on-base percentage, Josh Donaldson holds the edge, .358 to .338. Because Nolan Arenado is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Nolan Arenado vs Josh Donaldson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Nolan Arenado or Josh Donaldson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Nolan Arenado leads Josh Donaldson in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Nolan Arenado or Josh Donaldson hit more home runs?
- Nolan Arenado, with 383 to Josh Donaldson's 279.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Josh Donaldson, with .847 to Nolan Arenado's .843.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Nolan Arenado, with .280 to Josh Donaldson's .261.
- Who had more hits?
- Nolan Arenado, with 2,057 to Josh Donaldson's 1,310.