Nomar Garciaparra vs Alfonso Soriano: Career Stats Comparison
Alfonso Soriano 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). Nomar Garciaparra played 1996–2009 as a hitter; Alfonso Soriano played 1999–2014 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
Nomar Garciaparra (1996–2009) and Alfonso Soriano (1999–2014) — both broke in during the 1990s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Nomar Garciaparra finished with 1,747 hits and 229 home runs; Alfonso Soriano finished with 2,095 hits and 412 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Alfonso Soriano, with 412 to Nomar Garciaparra's 229.
- Who had the higher OPS? Nomar Garciaparra, with .882 to Alfonso Soriano's .819.
- Who had the higher batting average? Nomar Garciaparra, with .313 to Alfonso Soriano's .270.
- Who had more hits? Alfonso Soriano, with 2,095 to Nomar Garciaparra's 1,747.
- Who drove in more runs? Alfonso Soriano, with 1,159 to Nomar Garciaparra's 936.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Nomar Garciaparra, with 17,414 career PIV to Alfonso Soriano's 13,727.
- Who won more championships? Alfonso Soriano, with 2 World Series titles to Nomar Garciaparra's 1.
Nomar Garciaparra
Alfonso Soriano
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Nomar Garciaparra and Alfonso Soriano. 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 | Nomar Garciaparra | Alfonso Soriano |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,434 | Leads: 1,975 |
| At-Bats | 5,586 | Leads: 7,750 |
| Runs | 927 | Leads: 1,152 |
| Hits | 1,747 | Leads: 2,095 |
| Doubles | 370 | Leads: 481 |
| Triples | Leads: 52 | 31 |
| Home Runs | 229 | Leads: 412 |
| RBI | 936 | Leads: 1,159 |
| Walks | 403 | Leads: 496 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 554 | 1,803 |
| Stolen Bases | 95 | Leads: 289 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .313 | .270 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .361 | .319 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .521 | .500 |
| OPS | Leads: .882 | .819 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Nomar Garciaparra leads Alfonso Soriano 17,414 to 13,727 — driven by per-season impact — 1,161 PIV per season to 807 — rather than by longevity, since Nomar Garciaparra played 15 seasons to Alfonso Soriano's 17. 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).
Nomar Garciaparra — top 3 seasons by OPS
Alfonso Soriano — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Alfonso Soriano leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Nomar Garciaparra owns batting average, OBP, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Alfonso Soriano. Note that PIV actually grades Nomar Garciaparra ahead, which means Alfonso Soriano's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Nomar Garciaparra and Alfonso Soriano careers compare
From 1999 through 2009, Nomar Garciaparra and Alfonso Soriano were in the majors together. With 1,434 games against 1,975 across 15 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Nomar Garciaparra struck out more than walked (554 to 403); Alfonso Soriano struck out more than walked (1,803 to 496). Alfonso Soriano is the more power-leaning hitter, with 412 of 2,095 hits leaving the park. Alfonso Soriano was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In on-base percentage, Nomar Garciaparra holds the edge, .361 to .319.
Nomar Garciaparra vs Alfonso Soriano: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Nomar Garciaparra or Alfonso Soriano?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Alfonso Soriano leads Nomar Garciaparra in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Nomar Garciaparra or Alfonso Soriano hit more home runs?
- Alfonso Soriano, with 412 to Nomar Garciaparra's 229.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Nomar Garciaparra, with .882 to Alfonso Soriano's .819.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Nomar Garciaparra, with .313 to Alfonso Soriano's .270.
- Who had more hits?
- Alfonso Soriano, with 2,095 to Nomar Garciaparra's 1,747.