Rafael Devers vs George Kell: Career Stats Comparison
George Kell 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). Rafael Devers has played 2017–present as a hitter; George Kell played 1943–1957 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
Rafael Devers (2017–present) and George Kell (1943–1957) — they broke in during the 2010s and the 1940s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Rafael Devers has 1,359 hits and 272 home runs through October 12, 2026; George Kell finished with 2,054 hits and 78 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Rafael Devers, with 272 to George Kell's 78.
- Who had the higher OPS? Rafael Devers, with .856 to George Kell's .781.
- Who had the higher batting average? George Kell, with .306 to Rafael Devers's .274.
- Who had more hits? George Kell, with 2,054 to Rafael Devers's 1,359.
- Who drove in more runs? George Kell, with 870 to Rafael Devers's 845.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Rafael Devers, with 15,166 career PIV to George Kell's 12,722.
- Who won more championships? Rafael Devers, with 1 World Series title to George Kell's 0.
Rafael Devers
George Kell
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Rafael Devers and George Kell. 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, and the 2010s and the 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Rafael Devers is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Rafael Devers | George Kell |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,291 | Leads: 1,795 |
| At-Bats | 4,967 | Leads: 6,702 |
| Runs | 803 | Leads: 881 |
| Hits | 1,359 | Leads: 2,054 |
| Doubles | 324 | Leads: 385 |
| Triples | 13 | Leads: 50 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 272 | 78 |
| RBI | 845 | Leads: 870 |
| Walks | 539 | Leads: 621 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,247 | 287 |
| Stolen Bases | 33 | Leads: 51 |
| Batting Avg | .274 | Leads: .306 |
| On-Base % | .348 | Leads: .367 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .508 | .414 |
| OPS | Leads: .856 | .781 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rafael Devers leads George Kell 15,166 to 12,722 — driven by per-season impact — 1,517 PIV per season to 670 — rather than by longevity, since Rafael Devers played 10 seasons to George Kell's 19. 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).
Rafael Devers — top 3 seasons by OPS
George Kell — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, George Kell leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Rafael Devers owns home runs and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to George Kell. Note that PIV actually grades Rafael Devers ahead, which means George Kell's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Rafael Devers and George Kell careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: George Kell's ended in 1957, and Rafael Devers debuted in 2017. The two careers are close in length, 1,291 games for Rafael Devers and 1,795 for George Kell across 10 and 19 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Rafael Devers's edges on the table are home runs (272 to 78), slugging percentage (.508 to .414), and OPS (.856 to .781). At the plate, Rafael Devers struck out more than walked (1,247 to 539), while George Kell walked more often than struck out (621 walks, 287 strikeouts). Rafael Devers is the more power-leaning hitter, with 272 of 1,359 hits leaving the park. Because Rafael Devers is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Rafael Devers vs George Kell: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rafael Devers or George Kell?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, George Kell leads Rafael Devers in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Rafael Devers or George Kell hit more home runs?
- Rafael Devers, with 272 to George Kell's 78.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Rafael Devers, with .856 to George Kell's .781.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- George Kell, with .306 to Rafael Devers's .274.
- Who had more hits?
- George Kell, with 2,054 to Rafael Devers's 1,359.