Shohei Ohtani vs Frank Thomas: Career Stats Comparison
Frank Thomas 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). Shohei Ohtani has played 2018–present as a hitter; Frank Thomas played 1990–2008 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 Frank Thomas (1990–2008) — they broke in during the 2010s and the 1990s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Shohei Ohtani has 1,194 hits and 310 home runs through October 6, 2026; Frank Thomas finished with 2,468 hits and 521 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Frank Thomas, with 521 to Shohei Ohtani's 310.
- Who had the higher OPS? Frank Thomas, with .974 to Shohei Ohtani's .948.
- Who had the higher batting average? Frank Thomas, with .301 to Shohei Ohtani's .281.
- Who had more hits? Frank Thomas, with 2,468 to Shohei Ohtani's 1,194.
- Who drove in more runs? Frank Thomas, with 1,704 to Shohei Ohtani's 750.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Frank Thomas, with 56,456 career PIV to Shohei Ohtani's 24,591.
- Who won more championships? Shohei Ohtani, with 2 World Series titles to Frank Thomas's 1.
Shohei Ohtani
Frank Thomas
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Shohei Ohtani and Frank Thomas. 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 1990s 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 6, 2026.
| Statistic | Shohei Ohtani | Frank Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,172 | Leads: 2,322 |
| At-Bats | 4,253 | Leads: 8,199 |
| Runs | 797 | Leads: 1,494 |
| Hits | 1,194 | Leads: 2,468 |
| Doubles | 218 | Leads: 495 |
| Triples | Leads: 49 | 12 |
| Home Runs | 310 | Leads: 521 |
| RBI | 750 | Leads: 1,704 |
| Walks | 622 | Leads: 1,667 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,256 | 1,397 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 176 | 32 |
| Batting Avg | .281 | Leads: .301 |
| On-Base % | .375 | Leads: .419 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .574 | .555 |
| OPS | .948 | Leads: .974 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Frank Thomas outpaces Shohei Ohtani 56,456 to 24,591 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Frank Thomas played 20 seasons to Shohei Ohtani's 8, while Shohei Ohtani carries the higher per-season figure (3,074 to 2,823). 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
Frank Thomas — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Frank Thomas leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Shohei Ohtani owns stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Frank Thomas. PIV agrees: Frank Thomas 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 Frank Thomas careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Frank Thomas's ended in 2008, and Shohei Ohtani debuted in 2018. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Shohei Ohtani has appeared in 1,172 games to Frank Thomas's 2,322. Where Shohei Ohtani comes out ahead, it is in triples (49 to 12), stolen bases (176 to 32), and slugging percentage (.574 to .555). At the plate, Shohei Ohtani struck out more than walked (1,256 to 622), while Frank Thomas walked more often than struck out (1,667 walks, 1,397 strikeouts). Shohei Ohtani was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Shohei Ohtani's slugging percentage of .574 tops Frank Thomas's .555. Shohei Ohtani's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Shohei Ohtani vs Frank Thomas: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Shohei Ohtani or Frank Thomas?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Frank Thomas leads Shohei Ohtani in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Shohei Ohtani or Frank Thomas hit more home runs?
- Frank Thomas, with 521 to Shohei Ohtani's 310.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Frank Thomas, with .974 to Shohei Ohtani's .948.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Frank Thomas, with .301 to Shohei Ohtani's .281.
- Who had more hits?
- Frank Thomas, with 2,468 to Shohei Ohtani's 1,194.