Ryan Braun vs Nelson Cruz: Career Stats Comparison
Ryan Braun and Nelson Cruz are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Ryan Braun played 2007–2020 as a hitter; Nelson Cruz played 2005–2023 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
Ryan Braun (2007–2020) and Nelson Cruz (2005–2023) — both broke in during the 2000s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Ryan Braun finished with 1,963 hits and 352 home runs; Nelson Cruz finished with 2,053 hits and 464 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Nelson Cruz, with 464 to Ryan Braun's 352.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ryan Braun, with .891 to Nelson Cruz's .856.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ryan Braun, with .296 to Nelson Cruz's .274.
- Who had more hits? Nelson Cruz, with 2,053 to Ryan Braun's 1,963.
- Who drove in more runs? Nelson Cruz, with 1,325 to Ryan Braun's 1,154.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ryan Braun, with 27,762 career PIV to Nelson Cruz's 25,334.
Ryan Braun
Nelson Cruz
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ryan Braun and Nelson Cruz. 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 | Ryan Braun | Nelson Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,766 | Leads: 2,055 |
| At-Bats | 6,622 | Leads: 7,501 |
| Runs | 1,080 | Leads: 1,090 |
| Hits | 1,963 | Leads: 2,053 |
| Doubles | Leads: 408 | 372 |
| Triples | Leads: 49 | 15 |
| Home Runs | 352 | Leads: 464 |
| RBI | 1,154 | Leads: 1,325 |
| Walks | 586 | Leads: 738 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,363 | 1,916 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 216 | 84 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .296 | .274 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .358 | .343 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .532 | .513 |
| OPS | Leads: .891 | .856 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ryan Braun leads Nelson Cruz 27,762 to 25,334 — driven by per-season impact — 1,983 PIV per season to 1,267 — rather than by longevity, since Ryan Braun played 14 seasons to Nelson Cruz's 20. 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).
Ryan Braun — top 3 seasons by OPS
Nelson Cruz — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ryan Braun leads in stolen bases, batting average, OBP, and OPS, while Nelson Cruz owns hits, home runs, and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ryan Braun. PIV agrees: Ryan Braun grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Ryan Braun and Nelson Cruz careers compare
Ryan Braun and Nelson Cruz were active at the same time between 2007 and 2020. The two careers are close in length, 1,766 games for Ryan Braun and 2,055 for Nelson Cruz across 14 and 20 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Ryan Braun struck out more than walked (1,363 to 586); Nelson Cruz struck out more than walked (1,916 to 738). On the bases, Ryan Braun stole more often per game played (216 steals in 1,766 games for Ryan Braun, 84 in 2,055 for Nelson Cruz). In on-base percentage, Ryan Braun holds the edge, .358 to .343.
Ryan Braun vs Nelson Cruz: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Ryan Braun or Nelson Cruz hit more home runs?
- Nelson Cruz, with 464 to Ryan Braun's 352.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ryan Braun, with .891 to Nelson Cruz's .856.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ryan Braun, with .296 to Nelson Cruz's .274.
- Who had more hits?
- Nelson Cruz, with 2,053 to Ryan Braun's 1,963.