John Kruk
First Baseman · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1986-1995)
John Kruk was a first baseman who played in Major League Baseball from 1986 to 1995 for the San Diego Padres, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Chicago White Sox, a span of 10 seasons. In 1,200 career games, he hit .300 with 1,170 hits, 100 home runs, and 592 RBI. John Kruk was a 3-time All-Star. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 15,317.
- 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
- First Baseman
- Bats / Throws
- L / L
- Height / Weight
- 5'10" / 170 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1986-04-07
- Last Game
- 1995-07-30
- Awards
- 3× All-Star
Full name: John Martin Kruk
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200 | 3,897 | 582 | 1,170 | 199 | 34 | 100 | 592 | 58 | 649 | 701 | .300 | .397 | .446 | .842 | 15,317 |
Career AVG .300 vs. league average .260 across their career seasons — +15.6% above league average.
Career OBP .397 vs. league average .327 across their career seasons — +21.2% above league average.
Career SLG .446 vs. league average .395 across their career seasons — +12.9% above league average.
Career OPS .842 vs. league average .722 across their career seasons — +16.7% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | SDN | NL | 122 | 278 | 33 | 86 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 38 | 2 | 45 | 58 | .309 | .257 (+20%) | .325 (+24%) | .395 (+7%) | .720 (+15%) | 976.2 |
| 1987 | SDN | NL | 138 | 447 | 72 | 140 | 14 | 2 | 20 | 91 | 18 | 73 | 93 | .313 | .262 (+19%) | .331 (+23%) | .415 (+17%) | .746 (+20%) | 2084.0 |
| 1988 | SDN | NL | 120 | 378 | 54 | 91 | 17 | 1 | 9 | 44 | 5 | 80 | 68 | .241 | .254 (-5%) | .317 (+16%) | .377 (-4%) | .695 (+5%) | 696.4 |
| 1989 | SDN | NL | 31 | 76 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 14 | .184 | .254 (-28%) | .319 (+4%) | .375 (-19%) | .694 (-8%) | -38.7 |
| 1989 | PHI | NL | 81 | 281 | 46 | 93 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 38 | 3 | 27 | 39 | .331 | .254 (+30%) | .319 (+21%) | .375 (+26%) | .694 (+24%) | -38.7 |
| 1990 | PHI | NL | 142 | 443 | 52 | 129 | 25 | 8 | 7 | 67 | 10 | 69 | 70 | .291 | .257 (+13%) | .324 (+19%) | .385 (+12%) | .710 (+15%) | 1516.8 |
| 1991 | PHI | NL | 152 | 538 | 84 | 158 | 27 | 6 | 21 | 92 | 7 | 67 | 100 | .294 | .255 (+15%) | .323 (+14%) | .384 (+26%) | .708 (+20%) | 2161.7 |
| 1992 | PHI | NL | 144 | 507 | 86 | 164 | 30 | 4 | 10 | 70 | 3 | 92 | 88 | .323 | .255 (+26%) | .322 (+31%) | .377 (+21%) | .699 (+26%) | 2991.3 |
| 1993 | PHI | NL | 150 | 535 | 100 | 169 | 33 | 5 | 14 | 85 | 6 | 111 | 87 | .316 | .265 (+19%) | .332 (+29%) | .403 (+18%) | .735 (+23%) | 3055.8 |
| 1994 | PHI | NL | 75 | 255 | 35 | 77 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 38 | 4 | 42 | 51 | .302 | .269 (+12%) | .338 (+17%) | .424 (+1%) | .763 (+8%) | 499.2 |
| 1995 | CHA | AL | 45 | 159 | 13 | 49 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 23 | 0 | 26 | 33 | .308 | .266 (+15%) | .337 (+18%) | .417 (-7%) | .755 (+4%) | 214.3 |
| Career · 11 seasons | 1,200 | 3,897 | 582 | 1,170 | 199 | 34 | 100 | 592 | 58 | 649 | 701 | .300 | — | — | — | — | 14,118 | ||
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.
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
Playoff Batting by Year
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1200 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 600 | 1895 | 302 | 573 | 53 | 311 | .302 |
| Away | 600 | 2002 | 280 | 597 | 47 | 281 | .298 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-07-30 | CHW | BAL | L | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995-07-28 | CHW | BAL | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1995-07-27 | CHW | BOS | W | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1995-07-25 | CHW | BOS | W | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995-07-22 | CHW | MIL | W | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995-07-21 | CHW | MIL | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1995-07-20 | CHW | BOS | L | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995-07-19 | CHW | BOS | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1995-07-18 | CHW | NYY | W | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1995-07-17 | CHW | NYY | L | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 678 | 600 | 5309 | 376 | 31 | 412 |
| OF | 431 | 400 | 713 | 25 | 11 | 3 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | SDN | 1B | 9 | 3 | 37 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 1986 | SDN | OF | 74 | 65 | 102 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | SDN | 1B | 101 | 93 | 870 | 75 | 4 | 74 |
| 1987 | SDN | OF | 29 | 29 | 41 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | SDN | 1B | 63 | 56 | 535 | 33 | 3 | 45 |
| 1988 | SDN | OF | 55 | 52 | 99 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | SDN | OF | 27 | 24 | 48 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | PHI | 1B | 7 | 5 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 1989 | PHI | OF | 72 | 69 | 111 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| 1990 | PHI | 1B | 61 | 42 | 402 | 43 | 2 | 34 |
| 1990 | PHI | OF | 87 | 76 | 141 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | PHI | 1B | 102 | 89 | 735 | 49 | 2 | 54 |
| 1991 | PHI | OF | 52 | 51 | 113 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1992 | PHI | 1B | 121 | 106 | 979 | 58 | 7 | 76 |
| 1992 | PHI | OF | 35 | 34 | 58 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 | PHI | 1B | 144 | 138 | 1149 | 69 | 8 | 79 |
| 1994 | PHI | 1B | 69 | 67 | 539 | 46 | 3 | 44 |
| 1995 | CHA | 1B | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 678 |
| Left Field | 302 |
| Center Field | 11 |
| Right Field | 125 |
| Designated Hitter | 42 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Player of the Week | Week of 1993-04-10 |
| 1991 | Player of the Week | Week of 1991-09-21 |
| 1986 | Player of the Week | Week of 1986-08-15 |
Salary History
John Kruk's recorded salaries total $10,950,000 over 10 seasons, 1986 to 1995. Kruk's career, 1986 to 1995, falls within 1985 to 2016, the years the salary data covers.
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | CHA | AL | $1,000,000 |
| 1994 | PHI | NL | $2,450,000 |
| 1993 | PHI | NL | $2,450,000 |
| 1992 | PHI | NL | $2,350,000 |
| 1991 | PHI | NL | $1,175,000 |
| 1990 | PHI | NL | $655,000 |
| 1989 | SDN | NL | $450,000 |
| 1988 | SDN | NL | $250,000 |
| 1987 | SDN | NL | $110,000 |
| 1986 | SDN | NL | $60,000 |
| Total recorded salary | $10,950,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 16th | 9.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1992 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 14th | 8.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1991 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 17th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1986 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 7th | 1.0 | 120 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
John Kruk (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare John Kruk
John Kruk: the record in brief
According to the bio, John Kruk debuted on April 7, 1986 and played a final game on July 30, 1995. Kruk played for the San Diego Padres (1986 through 1989), the Philadelphia Phillies (1989 through 1994), and the Chicago White Sox (1995). Born on February 9, 1961, in Charleston, WV, USA, Kruk is listed as a first baseman and both batted and threw left-handed. The bio gives 5'10" and 170 pounds. On the record, John Kruk was born John Martin Kruk.
Across 1,200 games at the plate, Kruk's career line reads 1,170 hits in 3,897 at bats for a .300 average; the totals also include 100 home runs, 592 RBI, and 58 stolen bases. On-base and slugging figures of .397 and .446 give Kruk a career OPS of .842. Kruk's .300 average ran 15.6% above the .260 that the league posted over the same seasons. The OPS comparison is .842 to a league .722, 16.7% above average.
Frequently Asked Questions about John Kruk
- What years did John Kruk play?
- John Kruk played in Major League Baseball from 1986 to 1995.
- Was John Kruk a pitcher?
- No. John Kruk was a position player (First Baseman).
- How many home runs did John Kruk hit?
- John Kruk hit 100 career home runs with 1,170 hits.
- What teams did John Kruk play for?
- John Kruk played for 3 teams: the San Diego Padres (1986–1989), the Philadelphia Phillies (1989–1994), and the Chicago White Sox (1995).
- Did John Kruk win an MVP award?
- No. John Kruk did not win the MVP award.
- What awards did John Kruk win?
- John Kruk was selected to 3 All-Star Games.
- What were John Kruk's career stats?
- In 1,200 games, John Kruk had 1,170 hits, 100 home runs, 592 RBI, 582 runs, and 58 stolen bases, with a .300 batting average.
- How much did John Kruk earn in his career?
- John Kruk's recorded salaries total $10,950,000 over 10 seasons, 1986 to 1995. Kruk's career, 1986 to 1995, falls within 1985 to 2016, the years the salary data covers.
- What was John Kruk's salary?
- John Kruk's last recorded salary was $1,000,000, in 1995. His highest recorded salary was $2,450,000, in 1993, and his lowest was $60,000, in 1986. The Salary History table lists each season from 1986 to 1995.
- What position did John Kruk play?
- John Kruk played primarily as a first baseman, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was John Kruk and how much did he weigh?
- John Kruk was listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 170 pounds.
- How many home runs did John Kruk hit each season?
- John Kruk's home runs by season: 4 in 1986, 20 in 1987, 9 in 1988, 8 in 1989, 7 in 1990, 21 in 1991, 10 in 1992, 14 in 1993, 5 in 1994, and 2 in 1995. His most in one season was 21, in 1991.
- What was John Kruk's career batting average?
- John Kruk batted .300 over his career, with 1,170 hits in 3,897 at bats.
- How many RBI did John Kruk have?
- John Kruk drove in 592 runs in his career.