Bryce Harper vs Fred Lynn: Career Stats Comparison
Bryce Harper has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Bryce Harper has played 2012–present as a hitter; Fred Lynn 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
Bryce Harper (2012–present) and Fred Lynn (1974–1990) — they broke in during the 2010s and the 1970s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Bryce Harper has 1,956 hits and 392 home runs through October 12, 2026; Fred Lynn finished with 1,960 hits and 306 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Bryce Harper, with 392 to Fred Lynn's 306.
- Who had the higher OPS? Bryce Harper, with .902 to Fred Lynn's .845.
- Who had the higher batting average? Fred Lynn, with .283 to Bryce Harper's .279.
- Who had more hits? Fred Lynn, with 1,960 to Bryce Harper's 1,956.
- Who drove in more runs? Bryce Harper, with 1,138 to Fred Lynn's 1,111.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Bryce Harper, with 34,405 career PIV to Fred Lynn's 25,648.
Bryce Harper
Fred Lynn
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Bryce Harper and Fred Lynn. 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.
Bryce Harper is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Bryce Harper | Fred Lynn |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,947 | Leads: 1,969 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,012 | 6,925 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,247 | 1,063 |
| Hits | 1,956 | Leads: 1,960 |
| Doubles | Leads: 433 | 388 |
| Triples | 27 | Leads: 43 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 392 | 306 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,138 | 1,111 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,212 | 857 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,802 | 1,116 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 159 | 72 |
| Batting Avg | .279 | Leads: .283 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .386 | .360 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .516 | .484 |
| OPS | Leads: .902 | .845 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bryce Harper outpaces Fred Lynn 34,405 to 25,648 — driven by per-season impact — 2,458 PIV per season to 1,425 — rather than by longevity, since Bryce Harper played 14 seasons to Fred Lynn'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).
Bryce Harper — top 3 seasons by OPS
Fred Lynn — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bryce Harper leads in home runs, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Fred Lynn owns hits and batting average. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Bryce Harper. PIV agrees: Bryce Harper grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bryce Harper and Fred Lynn careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Fred Lynn's ended in 1990, and Bryce Harper debuted in 2012. With 1,947 games against 1,969 across 14 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Fred Lynn comes out ahead, it is in games (1,969 to 1,947), hits (1,960 to 1,956), and triples (43 to 27). At the plate, Bryce Harper struck out more than walked (1,802 to 1,212), and Fred Lynn struck out more than walked (1,116 to 857). Bryce Harper was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Bryce Harper holds the edge, .516 to .484. Bryce Harper's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Bryce Harper vs Fred Lynn: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bryce Harper or Fred Lynn?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Bryce Harper leads Fred Lynn in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Bryce Harper or Fred Lynn hit more home runs?
- Bryce Harper, with 392 to Fred Lynn's 306.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Bryce Harper, with .902 to Fred Lynn's .845.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Fred Lynn, with .283 to Bryce Harper's .279.
- Who had more hits?
- Fred Lynn, with 1,960 to Bryce Harper's 1,956.