Nelson Cruz vs Michael Young: Career Stats Comparison
Michael Young has the better career line of the two, leading 8 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; Michael Young played 2000–2013 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 Michael Young (2000–2013) — 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; Michael Young finished with 2,375 hits and 185 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 Michael Young's 185.
- Who had the higher OPS? Nelson Cruz, with .856 to Michael Young's .787.
- Who had the higher batting average? Michael Young, with .300 to Nelson Cruz's .274.
- Who had more hits? Michael Young, with 2,375 to Nelson Cruz's 2,053.
- Who drove in more runs? Nelson Cruz, with 1,325 to Michael Young's 1,030.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Nelson Cruz, with 25,334 career PIV to Michael Young's 9,102.
Nelson Cruz
Michael Young
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Nelson Cruz and Michael Young. 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 | Nelson Cruz | Michael Young |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,055 | 1,970 |
| At-Bats | 7,501 | Leads: 7,918 |
| Runs | 1,090 | Leads: 1,137 |
| Hits | 2,053 | Leads: 2,375 |
| Doubles | 372 | Leads: 441 |
| Triples | 15 | Leads: 60 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 464 | 185 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,325 | 1,030 |
| Walks | Leads: 738 | 575 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,916 | 1,235 |
| Stolen Bases | 84 | Leads: 90 |
| Batting Avg | .274 | Leads: .300 |
| On-Base % | .343 | Leads: .346 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .513 | .441 |
| OPS | Leads: .856 | .787 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Nelson Cruz outpaces Michael Young 25,334 to 9,102 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,267 PIV per season to 607, across 20 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).
Nelson Cruz — top 3 seasons by OPS
Michael Young — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Michael Young leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Nelson Cruz owns home runs, RBI, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Michael Young. Note that PIV actually grades Nelson Cruz ahead, which means Michael Young's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Nelson Cruz and Michael Young careers compare
From 2005 through 2013, Nelson Cruz and Michael Young were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,055 games for Nelson Cruz and 1,970 for Michael Young across 20 and 15 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Nelson Cruz struck out more than walked (1,916 to 738), and Michael Young struck out more than walked (1,235 to 575). Nelson Cruz is the more power-leaning hitter, with 464 of 2,053 hits leaving the park. Nelson Cruz's slugging percentage of .513 tops Michael Young's .441.
Nelson Cruz vs Michael Young: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Nelson Cruz or Michael Young?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Michael Young leads Nelson Cruz in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Nelson Cruz or Michael Young hit more home runs?
- Nelson Cruz, with 464 to Michael Young's 185.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Nelson Cruz, with .856 to Michael Young's .787.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Michael Young, with .300 to Nelson Cruz's .274.
- Who had more hits?
- Michael Young, with 2,375 to Nelson Cruz's 2,053.