Craig Kimbrel vs Hoyt Wilhelm: Career Stats Comparison
Hoyt Wilhelm has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Craig Kimbrel has played 2010–present as a pitcher; Hoyt Wilhelm played 1952–1972 as a pitcher.
- ERA (Earned Run Average):
- Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- SO (Strikeouts):
- For a batter, times retired on a third strike; for a pitcher, batters retired on a third strike.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched):
- Baserunners allowed per inning: (BB + H) ÷ IP. Under 1.00 is elite.
Data updated
Craig Kimbrel (2010–present) and Hoyt Wilhelm (1952–1972) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1950s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Craig Kimbrel has 57 wins and 1,322 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Hoyt Wilhelm finished with 143 wins and 1,610 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Hoyt Wilhelm, with 2.52 to Craig Kimbrel's 2.69.
- Who won more games? Hoyt Wilhelm, with 143 to Craig Kimbrel's 57.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Hoyt Wilhelm, with 1,610 to Craig Kimbrel's 1,322.
- Who had the better WHIP? Craig Kimbrel, with 1.04 to Hoyt Wilhelm's 1.12.
- Who pitched more innings? Hoyt Wilhelm, with 2,254.1 to Craig Kimbrel's 867.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Hoyt Wilhelm, with 5 to Craig Kimbrel's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Hoyt Wilhelm, with 40,894 career Pitcher PIV to Craig Kimbrel's 30,862.
Craig Kimbrel
Hoyt Wilhelm
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate. Cells highlighted in green mark the player who leads that line. Lower ERA, WHIP and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads. 12 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 4 are counting totals on which fewer is not an achievement, so no one is awarded them. Totals where fewer is not an achievement -- losses, walks and hits allowed -- are left unmarked, because they track how long someone pitched rather than how well. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, and the 2010s and the 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Craig Kimbrel is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Craig Kimbrel | Hoyt Wilhelm |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 57 | Leads: 143 |
| Losses not scored | 53 | 122 |
| Games | 897 | Leads: 1,070 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 52 |
| Complete Games | 0 | Leads: 20 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 5 |
| Saves | Leads: 441 | 227 |
| Strikeouts | 1,322 | Leads: 1,610 |
| Walks not scored | 368 | 778 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 532 | 1,757 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 79 | 150 |
| Innings Pitched | 867.2 | Leads: 2,254.1 |
| ERA | 2.69 | Leads: 2.52 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.04 | 1.12 |
| K/9 | Leads: 13.71 | 6.43 |
| BB/9 | 3.82 | Leads: 3.11 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Hoyt Wilhelm leads Craig Kimbrel 40,894 to 30,862 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Hoyt Wilhelm played 26 seasons to Craig Kimbrel's 18, while Craig Kimbrel carries the higher per-season figure (1,715 to 1,573). 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 ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Craig Kimbrel
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Hoyt Wilhelm — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Hoyt Wilhelm leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched, while Craig Kimbrel owns WHIP and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Hoyt Wilhelm. PIV agrees: Hoyt Wilhelm grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Craig Kimbrel and Hoyt Wilhelm careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Hoyt Wilhelm's ended in 1972, and Craig Kimbrel debuted in 2010. The two careers are close in length, 897 games for Craig Kimbrel and 1,070 for Hoyt Wilhelm across 18 and 26 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Craig Kimbrel comes out ahead, it is in saves (441 to 227), WHIP (1.04 to 1.12), and strikeouts per nine (13.71 to 6.43). By rate, Craig Kimbrel struck out 13.71 and walked 3.82 per nine innings; Hoyt Wilhelm struck out 6.43 and walked 3.11. Craig Kimbrel's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Craig Kimbrel vs Hoyt Wilhelm: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Craig Kimbrel or Hoyt Wilhelm?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Hoyt Wilhelm leads Craig Kimbrel in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Hoyt Wilhelm, with 2.52 to Craig Kimbrel's 2.69.
- Who won more games?
- Hoyt Wilhelm, with 143 to Craig Kimbrel's 57.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Hoyt Wilhelm, with 1,610 to Craig Kimbrel's 1,322.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Craig Kimbrel, with 1.04 to Hoyt Wilhelm's 1.12.