Heath Bell vs Jonathan Broxton: Career Stats Comparison
Jonathan Broxton has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Heath Bell played 2004–2014 as a pitcher; Jonathan Broxton played 2005–2017 as a pitcher.
- ERA (Earned Run Average):
- Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- SO (Strikeouts):
- For a batter, times retired on a third strike; for a pitcher, batters retired on a third strike.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched):
- Baserunners allowed per inning: (BB + H) ÷ IP. Under 1.00 is elite.
Data updated
Heath Bell (2004–2014) and Jonathan Broxton (2005–2017) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Heath Bell finished with 38 wins and 637 strikeouts; Jonathan Broxton finished with 43 wins and 758 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Jonathan Broxton, with 3.41 to Heath Bell's 3.49.
- Who won more games? Jonathan Broxton, with 43 to Heath Bell's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jonathan Broxton, with 758 to Heath Bell's 637.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jonathan Broxton, with 1.25 to Heath Bell's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Jonathan Broxton, with 676.0 to Heath Bell's 628.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Jonathan Broxton, with 17,970 career Pitcher PIV to Heath Bell's 16,481.
Jonathan Broxton
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate. Cells highlighted in green mark the player who leads that line. Lower ERA, WHIP and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads. 12 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 4 are counting totals on which fewer is not an achievement, so no one is awarded them. Totals where fewer is not an achievement -- losses, walks and hits allowed -- are left unmarked, because they track how long someone pitched rather than how well. 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.
| Statistic | Heath Bell | Jonathan Broxton |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 38 | Leads: 43 |
| Losses not scored | 32 | 38 |
| Games | 590 | Leads: 694 |
| Games Started | 0 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 168 | 118 |
| Strikeouts | 637 | Leads: 758 |
| Walks not scored | 214 | 268 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 584 | 580 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 48 | 51 |
| Innings Pitched | 628.2 | Leads: 676.0 |
| ERA | 3.49 | Leads: 3.41 |
| WHIP | 1.27 | Leads: 1.25 |
| K/9 | 9.12 | Leads: 10.09 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.06 | 3.57 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jonathan Broxton leads Heath Bell 17,970 to 16,481 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Jonathan Broxton played 16 seasons to Heath Bell's 11, while Heath Bell carries the higher per-season figure (1,498 to 1,123). 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 ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Heath Bell
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Jonathan Broxton
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jonathan Broxton leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Heath Bell owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jonathan Broxton. PIV agrees: Jonathan Broxton grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Heath Bell and Jonathan Broxton careers compare
Heath Bell and Jonathan Broxton were active at the same time between 2005 and 2014. With 590 games against 694 across 11 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Heath Bell are saves (168 to 118) and walks per nine (3.06 to 3.57). By rate, Heath Bell struck out 9.12 and walked 3.06 per nine innings; Jonathan Broxton struck out 10.09 and walked 3.57. Heath Bell worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 590 games, 168 saves), and Jonathan Broxton worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 694 games, 118 saves). Jonathan Broxton allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.25 WHIP to Heath Bell's 1.27.
Heath Bell vs Jonathan Broxton: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Heath Bell or Jonathan Broxton?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jonathan Broxton leads Heath Bell in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jonathan Broxton, with 3.41 to Heath Bell's 3.49.
- Who won more games?
- Jonathan Broxton, with 43 to Heath Bell's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jonathan Broxton, with 758 to Heath Bell's 637.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jonathan Broxton, with 1.25 to Heath Bell's 1.27.