Ryan Howard vs Scott Rolen: Career Stats Comparison
Scott Rolen 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; Scott Rolen played 1996–2012 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 Scott Rolen (1996–2012) — 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; Scott Rolen finished with 2,077 hits and 316 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 Scott Rolen's 316.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ryan Howard, with .859 to Scott Rolen's .855.
- Who had the higher batting average? Scott Rolen, with .281 to Ryan Howard's .258.
- Who had more hits? Scott Rolen, with 2,077 to Ryan Howard's 1,475.
- Who drove in more runs? Scott Rolen, with 1,287 to Ryan Howard's 1,194.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Scott Rolen, with 20,867 career PIV to Ryan Howard's 19,167.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Ryan Howard
Scott Rolen
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ryan Howard and Scott Rolen. 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 | Scott Rolen |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,572 | Leads: 2,038 |
| At-Bats | 5,707 | Leads: 7,398 |
| Runs | 848 | Leads: 1,211 |
| Hits | 1,475 | Leads: 2,077 |
| Doubles | 277 | Leads: 517 |
| Triples | 21 | Leads: 43 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 382 | 316 |
| RBI | 1,194 | Leads: 1,287 |
| Walks | 709 | Leads: 899 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,843 | 1,410 |
| Stolen Bases | 12 | Leads: 118 |
| Batting Avg | .258 | Leads: .281 |
| On-Base % | .343 | Leads: .364 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .515 | .490 |
| OPS | Leads: .859 | .855 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Scott Rolen leads Ryan Howard 20,867 to 19,167 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Scott Rolen played 19 seasons to Ryan Howard's 13, while Ryan Howard carries the higher per-season figure (1,474 to 1,098). 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
Scott Rolen — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Scott Rolen 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 Scott Rolen. PIV agrees: Scott Rolen 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 Scott Rolen careers compare
Ryan Howard and Scott Rolen were active at the same time between 2004 and 2012. With 1,572 games against 2,038 across 13 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Ryan Howard comes out ahead, it is in home runs (382 to 316), slugging percentage (.515 to .490), and OPS (.859 to .855). At the plate, Ryan Howard struck out more than walked (1,843 to 709), and Scott Rolen struck out more than walked (1,410 to 899). Ryan Howard is the more power-leaning hitter, with 382 of 1,475 hits leaving the park.
Ryan Howard vs Scott Rolen: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ryan Howard or Scott Rolen?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Scott Rolen leads Ryan Howard in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ryan Howard or Scott Rolen hit more home runs?
- Ryan Howard, with 382 to Scott Rolen's 316.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ryan Howard, with .859 to Scott Rolen's .855.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Scott Rolen, with .281 to Ryan Howard's .258.
- Who had more hits?
- Scott Rolen, with 2,077 to Ryan Howard's 1,475.