Nelson Cruz vs Andrew McCutchen: Career Stats Comparison
Andrew McCutchen has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Nelson Cruz played 2005–2023 as a hitter; Andrew McCutchen has played 2009–present 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
Nelson Cruz (2005–2023) and Andrew McCutchen (2009–present) — both broke in during the 2000s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Nelson Cruz finished with 2,053 hits and 464 home runs; Andrew McCutchen has 2,280 hits and 333 home runs through October 6, 2026. 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 Andrew McCutchen's 333.
- Who had the higher OPS? Nelson Cruz, with .856 to Andrew McCutchen's .819.
- Who had the higher batting average? Nelson Cruz, with .274 to Andrew McCutchen's .271.
- Who had more hits? Andrew McCutchen, with 2,280 to Nelson Cruz's 2,053.
- Who drove in more runs? Nelson Cruz, with 1,325 to Andrew McCutchen's 1,157.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Nelson Cruz, with 25,334 career PIV to Andrew McCutchen's 25,074.
Nelson Cruz
Andrew McCutchen
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Nelson Cruz and Andrew McCutchen. 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.
Andrew McCutchen is still active — his totals below are current through October 6, 2026.
| Statistic | Nelson Cruz | Andrew McCutchen |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,055 | Leads: 2,299 |
| At-Bats | 7,501 | Leads: 8,423 |
| Runs | 1,090 | Leads: 1,298 |
| Hits | 2,053 | Leads: 2,280 |
| Doubles | 372 | Leads: 453 |
| Triples | 15 | Leads: 50 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 464 | 333 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,325 | 1,157 |
| Walks | 738 | Leads: 1,192 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,916 | 1,915 |
| Stolen Bases | 84 | Leads: 220 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .274 | .271 |
| On-Base % | .343 | Leads: .364 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .513 | .455 |
| OPS | Leads: .856 | .819 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Nelson Cruz edges Andrew McCutchen 25,334 to 25,074 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Nelson Cruz played 20 seasons to Andrew McCutchen's 18, while Andrew McCutchen carries the higher per-season figure (1,393 to 1,267). 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).
Nelson Cruz — top 3 seasons by OPS
Andrew McCutchen — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Nelson Cruz leads in home runs, RBI, batting average, and OPS, while Andrew McCutchen owns hits, runs, and stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Nelson Cruz. PIV agrees: Nelson Cruz grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Nelson Cruz and Andrew McCutchen careers compare
From 2009 through 2023, Nelson Cruz and Andrew McCutchen were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,055 games for Nelson Cruz and 2,299 for Andrew McCutchen across 20 and 18 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Nelson Cruz struck out more than walked (1,916 to 738); Andrew McCutchen struck out more than walked (1,915 to 1,192). Home runs make up a larger share of Nelson Cruz's hits: 464 of 2,053 for Nelson Cruz, 333 of 2,280 for Andrew McCutchen. On the bases, Andrew McCutchen stole more often per game played (84 steals in 2,055 games for Nelson Cruz, 220 in 2,299 for Andrew McCutchen). Because Andrew McCutchen is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Nelson Cruz vs Andrew McCutchen: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Nelson Cruz or Andrew McCutchen?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Andrew McCutchen leads Nelson Cruz in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Nelson Cruz or Andrew McCutchen hit more home runs?
- Nelson Cruz, with 464 to Andrew McCutchen's 333.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Nelson Cruz, with .856 to Andrew McCutchen's .819.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Nelson Cruz, with .274 to Andrew McCutchen's .271.
- Who had more hits?
- Andrew McCutchen, with 2,280 to Nelson Cruz's 2,053.