Matt Kemp vs J. D. Martinez: Career Stats Comparison
Matt Kemp and J. D. Martinez are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Matt Kemp played 2006–2020 as a hitter; J. D. Martinez played 2011–2024 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
Matt Kemp (2006–2020) and J. D. Martinez (2011–2024) — they broke in during the 2000s and the 2010s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Matt Kemp finished with 1,808 hits and 287 home runs; J. D. Martinez finished with 1,741 hits and 331 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? J. D. Martinez, with 331 to Matt Kemp's 287.
- Who had the higher OPS? J. D. Martinez, with .863 to Matt Kemp's .821.
- Who had the higher batting average? Matt Kemp, with .284 to J. D. Martinez's .283.
- Who had more hits? Matt Kemp, with 1,808 to J. D. Martinez's 1,741.
- Who drove in more runs? J. D. Martinez, with 1,071 to Matt Kemp's 1,031.
- Who has the higher career PIV? J. D. Martinez, with 22,068 career PIV to Matt Kemp's 14,253.
- Who won more championships? J. D. Martinez, with 1 World Series title to Matt Kemp's 0.
Matt Kemp
J. D. Martinez
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Matt Kemp and J. D. Martinez. 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 2010s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Matt Kemp | J. D. Martinez |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 1,750 | 1,642 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 6,365 | 6,152 |
| Runs | Leads: 950 | 897 |
| Hits | Leads: 1,808 | 1,741 |
| Doubles | 338 | Leads: 390 |
| Triples | Leads: 37 | 24 |
| Home Runs | 287 | Leads: 331 |
| RBI | 1,031 | Leads: 1,071 |
| Walks | 518 | Leads: 601 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,641 | 1,714 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 184 | 26 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .284 | .283 |
| On-Base % | .337 | Leads: .348 |
| Slugging % | .484 | Leads: .516 |
| OPS | .821 | Leads: .863 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), J. D. Martinez outpaces Matt Kemp 22,068 to 14,253 — driven by per-season impact — 1,471 PIV per season to 891 — rather than by longevity, since J. D. Martinez played 15 seasons to Matt Kemp's 16. 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).
Matt Kemp — top 3 seasons by OPS
J. D. Martinez — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, J. D. Martinez leads in home runs, RBI, OBP, and OPS, while Matt Kemp owns hits, runs, and stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to J. D. Martinez. PIV agrees: J. D. Martinez grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Matt Kemp and J. D. Martinez careers compare
From 2011 through 2020, Matt Kemp and J. D. Martinez were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 1,750 games for Matt Kemp and 1,642 for J. D. Martinez across 16 and 15 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Matt Kemp struck out more than walked (1,641 to 518); J. D. Martinez struck out more than walked (1,714 to 601). On the bases, Matt Kemp stole more often per game played (184 steals in 1,750 games for Matt Kemp, 26 in 1,642 for J. D. Martinez). In slugging percentage, J. D. Martinez holds the edge, .516 to .484.
Matt Kemp vs J. D. Martinez: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Matt Kemp or J. D. Martinez hit more home runs?
- J. D. Martinez, with 331 to Matt Kemp's 287.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- J. D. Martinez, with .863 to Matt Kemp's .821.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Matt Kemp, with .284 to J. D. Martinez's .283.
- Who had more hits?
- Matt Kemp, with 1,808 to J. D. Martinez's 1,741.