Michael Brantley vs Justin Upton: Career Stats Comparison
Justin Upton has the better career line of the two, leading 12 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Michael Brantley played 2009–2023 as a hitter; Justin Upton played 2007–2022 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
Michael Brantley (2009–2023) and Justin Upton (2007–2022) — both broke in during the 2000s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Michael Brantley finished with 1,656 hits and 129 home runs; Justin Upton finished with 1,754 hits and 325 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Justin Upton, with 325 to Michael Brantley's 129.
- Who had the higher OPS? Justin Upton, with .812 to Michael Brantley's .794.
- Who had the higher batting average? Michael Brantley, with .298 to Justin Upton's .261.
- Who had more hits? Justin Upton, with 1,754 to Michael Brantley's 1,656.
- Who drove in more runs? Justin Upton, with 1,003 to Michael Brantley's 720.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Justin Upton, with 15,786 career PIV to Michael Brantley's 11,049.
- Who won more championships? Michael Brantley, with 1 World Series title to Justin Upton's 0.
Michael Brantley
Justin Upton
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Michael Brantley and Justin Upton. 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.
| Statistic | Michael Brantley | Justin Upton |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,445 | Leads: 1,845 |
| At-Bats | 5,566 | Leads: 6,721 |
| Runs | 758 | Leads: 1,058 |
| Hits | 1,656 | Leads: 1,754 |
| Doubles | 348 | Leads: 350 |
| Triples | 25 | Leads: 38 |
| Home Runs | 129 | Leads: 325 |
| RBI | 720 | Leads: 1,003 |
| Walks | 485 | Leads: 785 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 658 | 1,971 |
| Stolen Bases | 125 | Leads: 151 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .298 | .261 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .355 | .342 |
| Slugging % | .439 | Leads: .469 |
| OPS | .794 | Leads: .812 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Justin Upton outpaces Michael Brantley 15,786 to 11,049 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 929 PIV per season to 737, across 17 seasons to 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).
Michael Brantley — top 3 seasons by OPS
Justin Upton — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Justin Upton leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Michael Brantley owns batting average and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Justin Upton. PIV agrees: Justin Upton grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Michael Brantley and Justin Upton careers compare
From 2009 through 2022, Michael Brantley and Justin Upton were in the majors together. With 1,445 games against 1,845 across 15 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Michael Brantley's edges on the table are batting average (.298 to .261) and on-base percentage (.355 to .342). Michael Brantley struck out more than walked (658 to 485); Justin Upton struck out more than walked (1,971 to 785). Justin Upton is the more power-leaning hitter, with 325 of 1,754 hits leaving the park. Michael Brantley was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played.
Michael Brantley vs Justin Upton: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Michael Brantley or Justin Upton?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Justin Upton leads Michael Brantley in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Michael Brantley or Justin Upton hit more home runs?
- Justin Upton, with 325 to Michael Brantley's 129.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Justin Upton, with .812 to Michael Brantley's .794.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Michael Brantley, with .298 to Justin Upton's .261.
- Who had more hits?
- Justin Upton, with 1,754 to Michael Brantley's 1,656.