Robinson Cano vs Ian Kinsler: Career Stats Comparison
Robinson Cano has the better career line of the two, leading 11 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; Ian Kinsler played 2006–2019 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 Ian Kinsler (2006–2019) — 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; Ian Kinsler finished with 1,999 hits and 257 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Robinson Cano, with 335 to Ian Kinsler's 257.
- Who had the higher OPS? Robinson Cano, with .839 to Ian Kinsler's .777.
- Who had the higher batting average? Robinson Cano, with .301 to Ian Kinsler's .269.
- Who had more hits? Robinson Cano, with 2,639 to Ian Kinsler's 1,999.
- Who drove in more runs? Robinson Cano, with 1,306 to Ian Kinsler's 909.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Robinson Cano, with 25,312 career PIV to Ian Kinsler's 9,201.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Robinson Cano
Ian Kinsler
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Robinson Cano and Ian Kinsler. 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 | Ian Kinsler |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,267 | 1,888 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 8,773 | 7,423 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,262 | 1,243 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,639 | 1,999 |
| Doubles | Leads: 572 | 416 |
| Triples | 33 | Leads: 41 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 335 | 257 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,306 | 909 |
| Walks | 620 | Leads: 693 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,214 | 1,046 |
| Stolen Bases | 51 | Leads: 243 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .301 | .269 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .351 | .337 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .488 | .440 |
| OPS | Leads: .839 | .777 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Robinson Cano outpaces Ian Kinsler 25,312 to 9,201 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,332 PIV per season to 613, across 19 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).
Robinson Cano — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ian Kinsler — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Robinson Cano leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Ian Kinsler owns stolen bases. 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 Ian Kinsler careers compare
From 2006 through 2019, Robinson Cano and Ian Kinsler were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,267 games for Robinson Cano and 1,888 for Ian Kinsler across 19 and 15 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Ian Kinsler comes out ahead, it is in triples (41 to 33), walks (693 to 620), and stolen bases (243 to 51). Robinson Cano struck out more than walked (1,214 to 620); Ian Kinsler struck out more than walked (1,046 to 693). Ian Kinsler was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Robinson Cano holds the edge, .488 to .440.
Robinson Cano vs Ian Kinsler: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Robinson Cano or Ian Kinsler?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Robinson Cano leads Ian Kinsler in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Robinson Cano or Ian Kinsler hit more home runs?
- Robinson Cano, with 335 to Ian Kinsler's 257.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Robinson Cano, with .839 to Ian Kinsler's .777.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Robinson Cano, with .301 to Ian Kinsler's .269.
- Who had more hits?
- Robinson Cano, with 2,639 to Ian Kinsler's 1,999.