Lenny Dykstra
Outfielder · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1985-1996)
Lenny Dykstra was an outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1985 to 1996 for the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies, a span of 12 seasons. In 1,278 career games, he hit .285 with 1,298 hits, 81 home runs, and 404 RBI. Lenny Dykstra was a 3-time All-Star and a Silver Slugger. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 10,693.
- 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
- Position
- Outfielder
- Bats / Throws
- L / L
- Height / Weight
- 5'10" / 160 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1985-05-03
- Last Game
- 1996-05-18
- Awards
- 3× All-Star · Silver Slugger
Full name: Leonard Kyle Dykstra
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,278 | 4,559 | 802 | 1,298 | 281 | 43 | 81 | 404 | 285 | 640 | 503 | .285 | .375 | .419 | .793 | 10,693 |
Career AVG .285 vs. league average .261 across their career seasons — +9.3% above league average.
Career OBP .375 vs. league average .328 across their career seasons — +14.2% above league average.
Career SLG .419 vs. league average .398 across their career seasons — +5.3% above league average.
Career OPS .793 vs. league average .726 across their career seasons — +9.3% above league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | NYN | NL | 83 | 236 | 40 | 60 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 15 | 30 | 24 | .254 | .257 (-1%) | .323 (+5%) | .390 (-15%) | .714 (-6%) | -176.2 |
| 1986 | NYN | NL | 147 | 431 | 77 | 127 | 27 | 7 | 8 | 45 | 31 | 58 | 55 | .295 | .257 (+14%) | .325 (+16%) | .395 (+13%) | .720 (+14%) | 1314.8 |
| 1987 | NYN | NL | 132 | 431 | 86 | 123 | 37 | 3 | 10 | 43 | 27 | 40 | 67 | .285 | .262 (+9%) | .331 (+6%) | .415 (+9%) | .746 (+8%) | 701.6 |
| 1988 | NYN | NL | 126 | 429 | 57 | 116 | 19 | 3 | 8 | 33 | 30 | 30 | 43 | .270 | .254 (+6%) | .317 (+1%) | .377 (+2%) | .695 (+1%) | 100.5 |
| 1989 | NYN | NL | 56 | 159 | 27 | 43 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 23 | 15 | .270 | .254 (+6%) | .319 (+13%) | .375 (+11%) | .694 (+12%) | 347.2 |
| 1989 | PHI | NL | 90 | 352 | 39 | 78 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 17 | 37 | 38 | .222 | .254 (-13%) | .319 (-7%) | .375 (-12%) | .694 (-10%) | 347.2 |
| 1990 | PHI | NL | 149 | 590 | 106 | 192 | 35 | 3 | 9 | 60 | 33 | 89 | 48 | .325 | .257 (+26%) | .324 (+29%) | .385 (+14%) | .710 (+21%) | 2936.2 |
| 1991 | PHI | NL | 63 | 246 | 48 | 73 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 24 | 37 | 20 | .297 | .255 (+16%) | .323 (+21%) | .384 (+11%) | .708 (+15%) | 773.4 |
| 1992 | PHI | NL | 85 | 345 | 53 | 104 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 39 | 30 | 40 | 32 | .301 | .255 (+18%) | .322 (+16%) | .377 (+8%) | .699 (+12%) | 828.6 |
| 1993 | PHI | NL | 161 | 637 | 143 | 194 | 44 | 6 | 19 | 66 | 37 | 129 | 64 | .305 | .265 (+15%) | .332 (+27%) | .403 (+20%) | .735 (+23%) | 3573.7 |
| 1994 | PHI | NL | 84 | 315 | 68 | 86 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 24 | 15 | 68 | 44 | .273 | .269 (+1%) | .338 (+19%) | .424 (+2%) | .763 (+10%) | 834.4 |
| 1995 | PHI | NL | 62 | 254 | 37 | 67 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 10 | 33 | 28 | .264 | .266 (-1%) | .337 (+4%) | .417 (-15%) | .755 (-6%) | -198.2 |
| 1996 | PHI | NL | 40 | 134 | 21 | 35 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 26 | 25 | .261 | .269 (-3%) | .340 (+14%) | .426 (-2%) | .767 (+5%) | 185.8 |
| Career · 13 seasons | 1,278 | 4,559 | 802 | 1,298 | 281 | 43 | 81 | 404 | 285 | 640 | 503 | .285 | — | — | — | — | 11,569 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1278 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 643 | 2227 | 418 | 645 | 51 | 206 | .290 |
| Away | 635 | 2332 | 384 | 653 | 30 | 198 | .280 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-05-18 | PHI | LAD | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1996-05-17 | PHI | LAD | L | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 1996-05-15 | PHI | SFG | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996-05-14 | PHI | SFG | W | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996-05-13 | PHI | SFG | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1996-05-12 | PHI | ATL | W | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1996-05-11 | PHI | ATL | L | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996-05-10 | PHI | ATL | L | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996-05-08 | PHI | HOU | W | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996-05-07 | PHI | HOU | L | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1221 | 1110 | 3108 | 58 | 41 | 18 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | NYN | OF | 74 | 53 | 165 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| 1986 | NYN | OF | 139 | 98 | 283 | 8 | 3 | 2 |
| 1987 | NYN | OF | 118 | 100 | 239 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 1988 | NYN | OF | 112 | 98 | 270 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | NYN | OF | 51 | 43 | 124 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | PHI | OF | 88 | 85 | 208 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | PHI | OF | 149 | 148 | 439 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| 1991 | PHI | OF | 63 | 62 | 167 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 1992 | PHI | OF | 85 | 85 | 253 | 6 | 3 | 4 |
| 1993 | PHI | OF | 160 | 160 | 469 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
| 1994 | PHI | OF | 82 | 83 | 235 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 1995 | PHI | OF | 61 | 61 | 153 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 1996 | PHI | OF | 39 | 34 | 103 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 10 |
| Center Field | 1211 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Player of the Month | May |
| 1994 | Player of the Week | Week of 1994-05-14 |
| 1993 | Silver Slugger | OF |
| 1993 | TSN All-Star | OF |
| 1990 | Player of the Week | Week of 1990-06-02 |
| 1986 | Player of the Week | Week of 1986-07-11 |
Salary History
Lenny Dykstra's recorded salaries total $36,525,000 over 13 seasons, 1986 to 1998. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Dykstra's career ran from 1985 to 1996. No salary is recorded for 1985.
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | PHI | NL | $6,000,000 |
| 1997 | PHI | NL | $6,000,000 |
| 1996 | PHI | NL | $6,200,000 |
| 1995 | PHI | NL | $6,200,000 |
| 1994 | PHI | NL | $2,650,000 |
| 1993 | PHI | NL | $3,066,667 |
| 1992 | PHI | NL | $2,316,667 |
| 1991 | PHI | NL | $2,216,666 |
| 1990 | PHI | NL | $700,000 |
| 1989 | NYN | NL | $575,000 |
| 1988 | NYN | NL | $305,000 |
| 1987 | NYN | NL | $202,500 |
| 1986 | NYN | NL | $92,500 |
| Total recorded salary (partial) | $36,525,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 2nd | 267.0 | 392 | 4 |
| 1990 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 9th | 41.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1986 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 19th | 4.0 | 336 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Lenny Dykstra (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Lenny Dykstra
Lenny Dykstra: the record in brief
May 3, 1985 and May 18, 1996 bracket Lenny Dykstra's time in the majors: the debut and the last game on record. Dykstra played for the New York Mets (1985 to 1989) and the Philadelphia Phillies (1989 to 1996). Listed as an outfielder, Dykstra threw and hit left-handed. Height and weight on file: 5 feet, 10 inches and 160 pounds. Dykstra was born on February 10, 1963, in Santa Ana, CA, USA. Lenny Dykstra was the playing name; the full given name is Leonard Kyle.
Dykstra collected 1,298 hits in 4,559 at bats across 1,278 games, good for a .285 batting average; the totals also include 81 home runs, 404 RBI, and 285 stolen bases. Dykstra got on base at a .375 rate and slugged .419 (.793 OPS). Set against a .261 league average for the same years, Dykstra's .285 average sits 9.3% above it. The OPS comparison is .793 to a league .726, 9.3% above average. 1993 was Dykstra's biggest home run year, with 19.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lenny Dykstra
- What years did Lenny Dykstra play?
- Lenny Dykstra played in Major League Baseball from 1985 to 1996.
- Was Lenny Dykstra a pitcher?
- No. Lenny Dykstra was a position player (Outfielder).
- How many home runs did Lenny Dykstra hit?
- Lenny Dykstra hit 81 career home runs with 1,298 hits.
- What teams did Lenny Dykstra play for?
- Lenny Dykstra played for 2 teams: the New York Mets (1985–1989) and the Philadelphia Phillies (1989–1996).
- Did Lenny Dykstra win an MVP award?
- No. Lenny Dykstra did not win the MVP award.
- What awards did Lenny Dykstra win?
- Lenny Dykstra won the Silver Slugger award (1993). He was selected to 3 All-Star Games.
- What were Lenny Dykstra's career stats?
- In 1,278 games, Lenny Dykstra had 1,298 hits, 81 home runs, 404 RBI, 802 runs, and 285 stolen bases, with a .285 batting average.
- How much did Lenny Dykstra earn in his career?
- Lenny Dykstra's recorded salaries total $36,525,000 over 13 seasons, 1986 to 1998. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Dykstra's career ran from 1985 to 1996. No salary is recorded for 1985.
- What was Lenny Dykstra's salary?
- Lenny Dykstra's last recorded salary was $6,000,000, in 1998. His highest recorded salary was $6,200,000, in 1995, and his lowest was $92,500, in 1986. The Salary History table lists each season from 1986 to 1998.
- What position did Lenny Dykstra play?
- Lenny Dykstra played primarily as an outfielder, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Lenny Dykstra and how much did he weigh?
- Lenny Dykstra was listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 160 pounds.
- How many home runs did Lenny Dykstra hit each season?
- Lenny Dykstra's home runs by season: 1 in 1985, 8 in 1986, 10 in 1987, 8 in 1988, 7 in 1989, 9 in 1990, 3 in 1991, 6 in 1992, 19 in 1993, 5 in 1994, 2 in 1995, and 3 in 1996. His most in one season was 19, in 1993.
- What was Lenny Dykstra's career batting average?
- Lenny Dykstra batted .285 over his career, with 1,298 hits in 4,559 at bats.
- How many RBI did Lenny Dykstra have?
- Lenny Dykstra drove in 404 runs in his career.