Ryan Howard vs Jeff Kent: Career Stats Comparison
Jeff Kent 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). Ryan Howard played 2004–2016 as a hitter; Jeff Kent played 1992–2008 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
Ryan Howard (2004–2016) and Jeff Kent (1992–2008) — they broke in during the 2000s and the 1990s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Ryan Howard finished with 1,475 hits and 382 home runs; Jeff Kent finished with 2,461 hits and 377 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Ryan Howard, with 382 to Jeff Kent's 377.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ryan Howard, with .859 to Jeff Kent's .855.
- Who had the higher batting average? Jeff Kent, with .290 to Ryan Howard's .258.
- Who had more hits? Jeff Kent, with 2,461 to Ryan Howard's 1,475.
- Who drove in more runs? Jeff Kent, with 1,518 to Ryan Howard's 1,194.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jeff Kent, with 22,166 career PIV to Ryan Howard's 19,167.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Ryan Howard
Jeff Kent
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ryan Howard and Jeff Kent. 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 2000s and the 1990s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Ryan Howard | Jeff Kent |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,572 | Leads: 2,298 |
| At-Bats | 5,707 | Leads: 8,498 |
| Runs | 848 | Leads: 1,320 |
| Hits | 1,475 | Leads: 2,461 |
| Doubles | 277 | Leads: 560 |
| Triples | 21 | Leads: 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 382 | 377 |
| RBI | 1,194 | Leads: 1,518 |
| Walks | 709 | Leads: 801 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,843 | 1,522 |
| Stolen Bases | 12 | Leads: 94 |
| Batting Avg | .258 | Leads: .290 |
| On-Base % | .343 | Leads: .356 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .515 | .500 |
| OPS | Leads: .859 | .855 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jeff Kent leads Ryan Howard 22,166 to 19,167 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Jeff Kent played 19 seasons to Ryan Howard's 13, while Ryan Howard carries the higher per-season figure (1,474 to 1,167). 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).
Ryan Howard — top 3 seasons by OPS
Jeff Kent — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jeff Kent leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Ryan Howard owns home runs and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jeff Kent. PIV agrees: Jeff Kent grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Ryan Howard and Jeff Kent careers compare
The careers of Ryan Howard (2004–2016) and Jeff Kent (1992–2008) overlapped from 2004 to 2008, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 1,572 games against 2,298 across 13 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Ryan Howard are home runs (382 to 377), slugging percentage (.515 to .500), and OPS (.859 to .855). Ryan Howard struck out more than walked (1,843 to 709); Jeff Kent struck out more than walked (1,522 to 801). Ryan Howard is the more power-leaning hitter, with 382 of 1,475 hits leaving the park. In slugging percentage, Ryan Howard holds the edge, .515 to .500.
Ryan Howard vs Jeff Kent: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ryan Howard or Jeff Kent?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jeff Kent leads Ryan Howard in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ryan Howard or Jeff Kent hit more home runs?
- Ryan Howard, with 382 to Jeff Kent's 377.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ryan Howard, with .859 to Jeff Kent's .855.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Jeff Kent, with .290 to Ryan Howard's .258.
- Who had more hits?
- Jeff Kent, with 2,461 to Ryan Howard's 1,475.