Shohei Ohtani vs Albert Pujols: Career Stats Comparison
Albert Pujols has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Shohei Ohtani has played 2018–present as a hitter; Albert Pujols played 2001–2022 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
Shohei Ohtani (2018–present) and Albert Pujols (2001–2022) — they broke in during the 2010s and the 2000s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Shohei Ohtani has 1,194 hits and 310 home runs through October 12, 2026; Albert Pujols finished with 3,384 hits and 703 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Albert Pujols, with 703 to Shohei Ohtani's 310.
- Who had the higher OPS? Shohei Ohtani, with .948 to Albert Pujols's .918.
- Who had the higher batting average? Albert Pujols, with .296 to Shohei Ohtani's .281.
- Who had more hits? Albert Pujols, with 3,384 to Shohei Ohtani's 1,194.
- Who drove in more runs? Albert Pujols, with 2,218 to Shohei Ohtani's 750.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Albert Pujols, with 58,591 career PIV to Shohei Ohtani's 24,591.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 2 World Series titles.
Shohei Ohtani
Albert Pujols
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Shohei Ohtani and Albert Pujols. 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 2010s and the 2000s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Shohei Ohtani is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Shohei Ohtani | Albert Pujols |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,172 | Leads: 3,080 |
| At-Bats | 4,253 | Leads: 11,421 |
| Runs | 797 | Leads: 1,914 |
| Hits | 1,194 | Leads: 3,384 |
| Doubles | 218 | Leads: 686 |
| Triples | Leads: 49 | 16 |
| Home Runs | 310 | Leads: 703 |
| RBI | 750 | Leads: 2,218 |
| Walks | 622 | Leads: 1,373 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,256 | 1,404 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 176 | 117 |
| Batting Avg | .281 | Leads: .296 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .375 | .374 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .574 | .544 |
| OPS | Leads: .948 | .918 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Albert Pujols outpaces Shohei Ohtani 58,591 to 24,591 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Albert Pujols played 23 seasons to Shohei Ohtani's 8, while Shohei Ohtani carries the higher per-season figure (3,074 to 2,547). 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).
Shohei Ohtani — top 3 seasons by OPS
Albert Pujols — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Albert Pujols leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Shohei Ohtani owns stolen bases, OBP, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Albert Pujols. PIV agrees: Albert Pujols grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Shohei Ohtani and Albert Pujols careers compare
From 2018 through 2022, Shohei Ohtani and Albert Pujols were in the majors together. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Shohei Ohtani has appeared in 1,172 games to Albert Pujols's 3,080. Shohei Ohtani struck out more than walked (1,256 to 622); Albert Pujols struck out more than walked (1,404 to 1,373). Shohei Ohtani was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Shohei Ohtani's slugging percentage of .574 tops Albert Pujols's .544. On the peak-season lists, Shohei Ohtani's best year is 2023 at 1.066 OPS and Albert Pujols's is 2008 at 1.114 OPS; Albert Pujols has the stronger single season. Shohei Ohtani's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Shohei Ohtani vs Albert Pujols: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Shohei Ohtani or Albert Pujols?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Albert Pujols leads Shohei Ohtani in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Shohei Ohtani or Albert Pujols hit more home runs?
- Albert Pujols, with 703 to Shohei Ohtani's 310.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Shohei Ohtani, with .948 to Albert Pujols's .918.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Albert Pujols, with .296 to Shohei Ohtani's .281.
- Who had more hits?
- Albert Pujols, with 3,384 to Shohei Ohtani's 1,194.