Bryce Harper vs Carl Yastrzemski: Career Stats Comparison
Carl Yastrzemski 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). Bryce Harper has played 2012–present as a hitter; Carl Yastrzemski played 1961–1983 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 Carl Yastrzemski (1961–1983) — they broke in during the 2010s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Bryce Harper has 1,956 hits and 392 home runs through October 12, 2026; Carl Yastrzemski finished with 3,419 hits and 452 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Carl Yastrzemski, with 452 to Bryce Harper's 392.
- Who had the higher OPS? Bryce Harper, with .902 to Carl Yastrzemski's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average? Carl Yastrzemski, with .285 to Bryce Harper's .279.
- Who had more hits? Carl Yastrzemski, with 3,419 to Bryce Harper's 1,956.
- Who drove in more runs? Carl Yastrzemski, with 1,844 to Bryce Harper's 1,138.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Carl Yastrzemski, with 54,310 career PIV to Bryce Harper's 34,405.
Bryce Harper
Carl Yastrzemski
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Bryce Harper and Carl Yastrzemski. 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 1960s 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 | Carl Yastrzemski |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,947 | Leads: 3,308 |
| At-Bats | 7,012 | Leads: 11,988 |
| Runs | 1,247 | Leads: 1,816 |
| Hits | 1,956 | Leads: 3,419 |
| Doubles | 433 | Leads: 646 |
| Triples | 27 | Leads: 59 |
| Home Runs | 392 | Leads: 452 |
| RBI | 1,138 | Leads: 1,844 |
| Walks | 1,212 | Leads: 1,845 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,802 | 1,393 |
| Stolen Bases | 159 | Leads: 168 |
| Batting Avg | .279 | Leads: .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .386 | .379 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .516 | .462 |
| OPS | Leads: .902 | .841 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Carl Yastrzemski outpaces Bryce Harper 54,310 to 34,405 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Carl Yastrzemski played 23 seasons to Bryce Harper's 14, while Bryce Harper carries the higher per-season figure (2,458 to 2,361). 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
Carl Yastrzemski — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Carl Yastrzemski leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Bryce Harper owns OBP and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Carl Yastrzemski. PIV agrees: Carl Yastrzemski 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 Carl Yastrzemski careers compare
Carl Yastrzemski (1961–1983) was finished before Bryce Harper (2012–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. Carl Yastrzemski has the far longer record, 3,308 games against 1,947 across 14 and 23 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Where Bryce Harper comes out ahead, it is in on-base percentage (.386 to .379), slugging percentage (.516 to .462), and OPS (.902 to .841). At the plate, Bryce Harper struck out more than walked (1,802 to 1,212), while Carl Yastrzemski walked more often than struck out (1,845 walks, 1,393 strikeouts). Bryce Harper is the more power-leaning hitter, with 392 of 1,956 hits leaving the park. Bryce Harper was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Bryce Harper's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Bryce Harper vs Carl Yastrzemski: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bryce Harper or Carl Yastrzemski?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Carl Yastrzemski leads Bryce Harper in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Bryce Harper or Carl Yastrzemski hit more home runs?
- Carl Yastrzemski, with 452 to Bryce Harper's 392.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Bryce Harper, with .902 to Carl Yastrzemski's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Carl Yastrzemski, with .285 to Bryce Harper's .279.
- Who had more hits?
- Carl Yastrzemski, with 3,419 to Bryce Harper's 1,956.