Paul Goldschmidt vs Keith Hernandez: Career Stats Comparison
Paul Goldschmidt 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). Paul Goldschmidt has played 2011–present as a hitter; Keith Hernandez played 1974–1990 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
Paul Goldschmidt (2011–present) and Keith Hernandez (1974–1990) — they broke in during the 2010s and the 1970s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Paul Goldschmidt has 2,277 hits and 390 home runs through October 12, 2026; Keith Hernandez finished with 2,182 hits and 162 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Paul Goldschmidt, with 390 to Keith Hernandez's 162.
- Who had the higher OPS? Paul Goldschmidt, with .877 to Keith Hernandez's .821.
- Who had the higher batting average? Keith Hernandez, with .296 to Paul Goldschmidt's .286.
- Who had more hits? Paul Goldschmidt, with 2,277 to Keith Hernandez's 2,182.
- Who drove in more runs? Paul Goldschmidt, with 1,284 to Keith Hernandez's 1,071.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Paul Goldschmidt, with 35,401 career PIV to Keith Hernandez's 25,249.
- Who won more championships? Keith Hernandez, with 2 World Series titles to Paul Goldschmidt's 0.
Paul Goldschmidt
Keith Hernandez
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Paul Goldschmidt and Keith Hernandez. 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 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Paul Goldschmidt is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Paul Goldschmidt | Keith Hernandez |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,179 | 2,088 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,953 | 7,370 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,324 | 1,124 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,277 | 2,182 |
| Doubles | Leads: 490 | 426 |
| Triples | 25 | Leads: 60 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 390 | 162 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,284 | 1,071 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,115 | 1,070 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 2,065 | 1,012 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 175 | 98 |
| Batting Avg | .286 | Leads: .296 |
| On-Base % | .375 | Leads: .384 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .501 | .436 |
| OPS | Leads: .877 | .821 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Paul Goldschmidt outpaces Keith Hernandez 35,401 to 25,249 — driven by per-season impact — 2,360 PIV per season to 1,403 — rather than by longevity, since Paul Goldschmidt played 15 seasons to Keith Hernandez's 18. 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).
Paul Goldschmidt — top 3 seasons by OPS
Keith Hernandez — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Paul Goldschmidt leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Keith Hernandez owns batting average and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Paul Goldschmidt. PIV agrees: Paul Goldschmidt grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Paul Goldschmidt and Keith Hernandez careers compare
No season is shared: Keith Hernandez played 1974–1990, Paul Goldschmidt 2011–present. The two careers are close in length, 2,179 games for Paul Goldschmidt and 2,088 for Keith Hernandez across 15 and 18 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Keith Hernandez comes out ahead, it is in triples (60 to 25), batting average (.296 to .286), and on-base percentage (.384 to .375). Plate discipline differs: Paul Goldschmidt struck out more than walked (2,065 to 1,115), but Keith Hernandez walked more often than struck out (1,070 walks, 1,012 strikeouts). Paul Goldschmidt is the more power-leaning hitter, with 390 of 2,277 hits leaving the park. Because Paul Goldschmidt is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Paul Goldschmidt vs Keith Hernandez: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Paul Goldschmidt or Keith Hernandez?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Paul Goldschmidt leads Keith Hernandez in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Paul Goldschmidt or Keith Hernandez hit more home runs?
- Paul Goldschmidt, with 390 to Keith Hernandez's 162.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Paul Goldschmidt, with .877 to Keith Hernandez's .821.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Keith Hernandez, with .296 to Paul Goldschmidt's .286.
- Who had more hits?
- Paul Goldschmidt, with 2,277 to Keith Hernandez's 2,182.