Jason Kendall vs Brian McCann: Career Stats Comparison
Jason Kendall 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). Jason Kendall played 1996–2010 as a hitter; Brian McCann played 2005–2019 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
Jason Kendall (1996–2010) and Brian McCann (2005–2019) — they broke in during the 1990s and the 2000s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Jason Kendall finished with 2,195 hits and 75 home runs; Brian McCann finished with 1,590 hits and 282 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Brian McCann, with 282 to Jason Kendall's 75.
- Who had the higher OPS? Brian McCann, with .789 to Jason Kendall's .744.
- Who had the higher batting average? Jason Kendall, with .288 to Brian McCann's .262.
- Who had more hits? Jason Kendall, with 2,195 to Brian McCann's 1,590.
- Who drove in more runs? Brian McCann, with 1,018 to Jason Kendall's 744.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Brian McCann, with 9,133 career PIV to Jason Kendall's 2,078.
- Who won more championships? Brian McCann, with 1 World Series title to Jason Kendall's 0.
Jason Kendall
Brian McCann
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jason Kendall and Brian McCann. 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 1990s and the 2000s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Jason Kendall | Brian McCann |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,085 | 1,755 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,627 | 6,067 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,030 | 742 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,195 | 1,590 |
| Doubles | Leads: 394 | 294 |
| Triples | Leads: 35 | 5 |
| Home Runs | 75 | Leads: 282 |
| RBI | 744 | Leads: 1,018 |
| Walks | Leads: 721 | 640 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 686 | 1,054 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 189 | 25 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .288 | .262 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .366 | .337 |
| Slugging % | .378 | Leads: .452 |
| OPS | .744 | Leads: .789 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Brian McCann outpaces Jason Kendall 9,133 to 2,078 — driven by per-season impact — 609 PIV per season to 130 — rather than by longevity, since Brian McCann played 15 seasons to Jason Kendall'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).
Jason Kendall — top 3 seasons by OPS
Brian McCann — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jason Kendall leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Brian McCann owns home runs, RBI, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jason Kendall. Note that PIV actually grades Brian McCann ahead, which means Jason Kendall's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jason Kendall and Brian McCann careers compare
From 2005 through 2010, Jason Kendall and Brian McCann were in the majors together. With 2,085 games against 1,755 across 16 and 15 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Brian McCann comes out ahead, it is in home runs (282 to 75), RBI (1,018 to 744), and slugging percentage (.452 to .378). Plate discipline differs: Jason Kendall walked more often than struck out (721 walks, 686 strikeouts), but Brian McCann struck out more than walked (1,054 to 640). Brian McCann is the more power-leaning hitter, with 282 of 1,590 hits leaving the park.
Jason Kendall vs Brian McCann: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jason Kendall or Brian McCann?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jason Kendall leads Brian McCann in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Jason Kendall or Brian McCann hit more home runs?
- Brian McCann, with 282 to Jason Kendall's 75.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Brian McCann, with .789 to Jason Kendall's .744.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Jason Kendall, with .288 to Brian McCann's .262.
- Who had more hits?
- Jason Kendall, with 2,195 to Brian McCann's 1,590.