Robinson Cano vs Ryan Howard: Career Stats Comparison
Robinson Cano 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). Robinson Cano played 2005–2022 as a hitter; Ryan Howard played 2004–2016 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
Robinson Cano (2005–2022) and Ryan Howard (2004–2016) — both broke in during the 2000s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Robinson Cano finished with 2,639 hits and 335 home runs; Ryan Howard finished with 1,475 hits and 382 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Ryan Howard, with 382 to Robinson Cano's 335.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ryan Howard, with .859 to Robinson Cano's .839.
- Who had the higher batting average? Robinson Cano, with .301 to Ryan Howard's .258.
- Who had more hits? Robinson Cano, with 2,639 to Ryan Howard's 1,475.
- Who drove in more runs? Robinson Cano, with 1,306 to Ryan Howard's 1,194.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Robinson Cano, with 25,312 career PIV to Ryan Howard's 19,167.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Robinson Cano
Ryan Howard
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Robinson Cano and Ryan Howard. 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 | Robinson Cano | Ryan Howard |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,267 | 1,572 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 8,773 | 5,707 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,262 | 848 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,639 | 1,475 |
| Doubles | Leads: 572 | 277 |
| Triples | Leads: 33 | 21 |
| Home Runs | 335 | Leads: 382 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,306 | 1,194 |
| Walks | 620 | Leads: 709 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,214 | 1,843 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 51 | 12 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .301 | .258 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .351 | .343 |
| Slugging % | .488 | Leads: .515 |
| OPS | .839 | Leads: .859 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Robinson Cano leads Ryan Howard 25,312 to 19,167 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Robinson Cano played 19 seasons to Ryan Howard's 13, while Ryan Howard carries the higher per-season figure (1,474 to 1,332). 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).
Robinson Cano — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ryan Howard — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Robinson Cano leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Ryan Howard owns home runs and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Robinson Cano. PIV agrees: Robinson Cano grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Robinson Cano and Ryan Howard careers compare
The careers of Robinson Cano (2005–2022) and Ryan Howard (2004–2016) overlapped from 2005 to 2016, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. The two careers are close in length, 2,267 games for Robinson Cano and 1,572 for Ryan Howard across 19 and 13 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Ryan Howard comes out ahead, it is in home runs (382 to 335), walks (709 to 620), and slugging percentage (.515 to .488). At the plate, Robinson Cano struck out more than walked (1,214 to 620), and Ryan Howard struck out more than walked (1,843 to 709).
Robinson Cano vs Ryan Howard: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Robinson Cano or Ryan Howard?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Robinson Cano leads Ryan Howard in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Robinson Cano or Ryan Howard hit more home runs?
- Ryan Howard, with 382 to Robinson Cano's 335.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ryan Howard, with .859 to Robinson Cano's .839.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Robinson Cano, with .301 to Ryan Howard's .258.
- Who had more hits?
- Robinson Cano, with 2,639 to Ryan Howard's 1,475.