Juan Samuel
Second Baseman · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1983-1998)
Juan Samuel was a second baseman who played in Major League Baseball from 1983 to 1998 for 7 teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies, a span of 16 seasons. In 1,720 career games, he hit .259 with 1,578 hits, 161 home runs, and 703 RBI. Juan Samuel was a 3-time All-Star and a Silver Slugger. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 1,809.
- 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
- Second Baseman
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 5'11" / 170 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1983-08-24
- Last Game
- 1998-09-26
- Awards
- 3× All-Star · Silver Slugger
Full name: Juan Milton Samuel
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,720 | 6,081 | 873 | 1,578 | 287 | 102 | 161 | 703 | 396 | 440 | 1,442 | .259 | .315 | .420 | .735 | 1,809 |
Career AVG .259 vs. league average .261 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OBP .315 vs. league average .329 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career SLG .420 vs. league average .399 across their career seasons — +5.1% above league average.
Career OPS .735 vs. league average .728 across their career seasons — near 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | PHI | NL | 18 | 65 | 14 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 16 | .277 | .260 (+6%) | .324 (avg) | .389 (+15%) | .714 (+8%) | 62.7 |
| 1984 | PHI | NL | 160 | 701 | 105 | 191 | 36 | 19 | 15 | 69 | 72 | 28 | 168 | .272 | .259 (+5%) | .322 (-5%) | .384 (+15%) | .707 (+6%) | 490.4 |
| 1985 | PHI | NL | 161 | 663 | 101 | 175 | 31 | 13 | 19 | 74 | 53 | 33 | 141 | .264 | .257 (+3%) | .323 (-6%) | .390 (+11%) | .714 (+3%) | 164.0 |
| 1986 | PHI | NL | 145 | 591 | 90 | 157 | 36 | 12 | 16 | 78 | 42 | 26 | 142 | .266 | .257 (+3%) | .325 (-7%) | .395 (+13%) | .720 (+4%) | 153.6 |
| 1987 | PHI | NL | 160 | 655 | 113 | 178 | 37 | 15 | 28 | 100 | 35 | 60 | 162 | .272 | .262 (+3%) | .331 (+1%) | .415 (+21%) | .746 (+12%) | 1435.9 |
| 1988 | PHI | NL | 157 | 629 | 68 | 153 | 32 | 9 | 12 | 67 | 33 | 39 | 151 | .243 | .254 (-4%) | .317 (-6%) | .377 (+1%) | .695 (-3%) | -354.6 |
| 1989 | PHI | NL | 51 | 199 | 32 | 49 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 20 | 11 | 18 | 45 | .246 | .254 (-3%) | .319 (-3%) | .375 (+4%) | .694 (+1%) | 37.6 |
| 1989 | NYN | NL | 86 | 333 | 37 | 76 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 28 | 31 | 24 | 75 | .228 | .254 (-10%) | .319 (-6%) | .375 (-20%) | .694 (-14%) | 37.6 |
| 1990 | LAN | NL | 143 | 492 | 62 | 119 | 24 | 3 | 13 | 52 | 38 | 51 | 126 | .242 | .257 (-6%) | .324 (-3%) | .385 (-1%) | .710 (-2%) | -131.6 |
| 1991 | LAN | NL | 153 | 594 | 74 | 161 | 22 | 6 | 12 | 58 | 23 | 49 | 133 | .271 | .255 (+6%) | .323 (+1%) | .384 (+1%) | .708 (+1%) | 142.7 |
| 1992 | LAN | NL | 47 | 122 | 7 | 32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 7 | 22 | .262 | .255 (+3%) | .322 (-6%) | .377 (-20%) | .699 (-13%) | -257.7 |
| 1992 | KCA | AL | 29 | 102 | 15 | 29 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 27 | .284 | .255 (+11%) | .322 (+4%) | .377 (+4%) | .699 (+4%) | -257.7 |
| 1993 | CIN | NL | 103 | 261 | 31 | 60 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 9 | 23 | 53 | .230 | .265 (-13%) | .332 (-10%) | .403 (-14%) | .735 (-13%) | -554.0 |
| 1994 | DET | AL | 59 | 136 | 32 | 42 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 21 | 5 | 10 | 26 | .309 | .269 (+14%) | .338 (+8%) | .424 (+32%) | .763 (+21%) | 468.5 |
| 1995 | DET | AL | 76 | 171 | 28 | 48 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 34 | 5 | 24 | 38 | .281 | .266 (+5%) | .337 (+11%) | .417 (+26%) | .755 (+19%) | 657.5 |
| 1995 | KCA | AL | 15 | 34 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 11 | .176 | — | — | — | — | 657.5 |
| 1996 | TOR | AL | 69 | 188 | 34 | 48 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 26 | 9 | 15 | 65 | .255 | .269 (-5%) | .340 (-6%) | .426 (+7%) | .767 (+1%) | 1.8 |
| 1997 | TOR | AL | 45 | 95 | 13 | 27 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 28 | .284 | .266 (+7%) | .336 (+8%) | .419 (+23%) | .756 (+16%) | 266.0 |
| 1998 | TOR | AL | 43 | 50 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 7 | 13 | .180 | .266 (-32%) | .335 (-13%) | .420 (-33%) | .755 (-24%) | -186.2 |
| Career · 19 seasons | 1,720 | 6,081 | 873 | 1,578 | 287 | 102 | 161 | 703 | 396 | 440 | 1,442 | .259 | — | — | — | — | 2,834 | ||
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 (1720 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 859 | 2941 | 459 | 773 | 82 | 356 | .263 |
| Away | 861 | 3140 | 414 | 805 | 79 | 347 | .256 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-09-26 | TOR | DET | W | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998-09-21 | TOR | BAL | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998-09-20 | TOR | TBR | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998-09-05 | TOR | BOS | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998-09-03 | TOR | BOS | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998-08-27 | TOR | KCR | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998-08-23 | TOR | LAA | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998-08-19 | TOR | SEA | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998-08-05 | TOR | TEX | L | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998-07-23 | TOR | BOS | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 73 | 45 | 414 | 33 | 7 | 38 |
| 2B | 1190 | 1143 | 2580 | 3228 | 164 | 630 |
| 3B | 14 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 2 |
| OF | 267 | 243 | 573 | 15 | 17 | 3 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | PHI | 2B | 18 | 15 | 44 | 54 | 9 | 9 |
| 1984 | PHI | 2B | 160 | 158 | 388 | 438 | 33 | 77 |
| 1985 | PHI | 2B | 159 | 159 | 389 | 463 | 15 | 88 |
| 1986 | PHI | 2B | 143 | 143 | 290 | 440 | 25 | 83 |
| 1987 | PHI | 2B | 160 | 159 | 374 | 434 | 18 | 99 |
| 1988 | PHI | 2B | 152 | 151 | 343 | 385 | 16 | 92 |
| 1988 | PHI | 3B | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | PHI | OF | 3 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | PHI | OF | 50 | 50 | 133 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | NYN | OF | 84 | 83 | 206 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| 1990 | LAN | 2B | 108 | 101 | 194 | 258 | 13 | 47 |
| 1990 | LAN | OF | 31 | 31 | 79 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 1991 | LAN | 2B | 152 | 151 | 300 | 442 | 17 | 73 |
| 1992 | LAN | 2B | 38 | 29 | 75 | 77 | 4 | 13 |
| 1992 | LAN | OF | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | KCA | 2B | 10 | 9 | 19 | 27 | 3 | 9 |
| 1992 | KCA | OF | 18 | 18 | 26 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 1993 | CIN | 1B | 6 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | CIN | 2B | 70 | 58 | 135 | 164 | 9 | 33 |
| 1993 | CIN | 3B | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | CIN | OF | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 | DET | 1B | 2 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1994 | DET | 2B | 8 | 6 | 11 | 24 | 1 | 3 |
| 1994 | DET | OF | 27 | 23 | 60 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | DET | 1B | 37 | 27 | 271 | 23 | 5 | 26 |
| 1995 | DET | 2B | 6 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 3 |
| 1995 | DET | OF | 9 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1995 | KCA | 1B | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | KCA | OF | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | TOR | 1B | 17 | 12 | 90 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| 1996 | TOR | OF | 24 | 13 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | TOR | 1B | 7 | 4 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 1997 | TOR | 2B | 4 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 1997 | TOR | 3B | 9 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| 1997 | TOR | OF | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | TOR | 1B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | TOR | 2B | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | TOR | OF | 10 | 10 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 73 |
| Second Base | 1190 |
| Third Base | 14 |
| Left Field | 34 |
| Center Field | 197 |
| Right Field | 40 |
| Designated Hitter | 83 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Silver Slugger | 2B |
| 1987 | TSN All-Star | 2B |
| 1985 | Player of the Week | Week of 1985-08-30 |
| 1984 | TSN Rookie Player of the Year |
Salary History
Juan Samuel's recorded salaries total $11,768,500 over 14 seasons, 1985 to 1998. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Samuel's career ran from 1983 to 1998. His seasons before 1985 are not included.
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | TOR | AL | $421,000 |
| 1997 | TOR | AL | $375,000 |
| 1996 | TOR | AL | $325,000 |
| 1995 | DET | AL | $375,000 |
| 1994 | DET | AL | $400,000 |
| 1993 | CIN | NL | $700,000 |
| 1992 | LAN | NL | $2,325,000 |
| 1991 | LAN | NL | $1,575,000 |
| 1990 | LAN | NL | $1,350,000 |
| 1989 | PHI | NL | $1,450,000 |
| 1988 | PHI | NL | $1,060,000 |
| 1987 | PHI | NL | $660,000 |
| 1986 | PHI | NL | $512,500 |
| 1985 | PHI | NL | $240,000 |
| Total recorded salary (partial) | $11,768,500 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 13th | 19.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1984 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 21th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1984 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 2nd | 67.0 | 120 | 1 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Juan Samuel (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Juan Samuel
Juan Samuel: the record in brief
August 24, 1983 and September 26, 1998 bracket Juan Samuel's time in the majors: the debut and the last game on record. Club by club, the record runs the Philadelphia Phillies (1983 through 1989), the New York Mets (1989), the Los Angeles Dodgers (1990 through 1992), the Kansas City Royals (1992 to 1995), the Cincinnati Reds (1993), the Detroit Tigers (1994 through 1995), and the Toronto Blue Jays (1996 to 1998). Samuel played primarily as a second baseman and both batted and threw right-handed. The bio adds a birth date on December 9, 1960, in San Pedro de Macoris, San Pedro de Macorís, D.R. and a listed size of 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds. The given name on file is Juan Milton Samuel.
In 1,720 games and 6,081 at bats, Samuel batted .259 with 1,578 hits; the totals also include 161 homers, 703 RBI, and 396 stolen bases. Reaching base at a .315 clip and slugging .420, Samuel finished with a .735 OPS.
Frequently Asked Questions about Juan Samuel
- What years did Juan Samuel play?
- Juan Samuel played in Major League Baseball from 1983 to 1998.
- Was Juan Samuel a pitcher?
- No. Juan Samuel was a position player (Second Baseman).
- How many home runs did Juan Samuel hit?
- Juan Samuel hit 161 career home runs with 1,578 hits.
- What teams did Juan Samuel play for?
- Juan Samuel played for 7 teams: the Philadelphia Phillies (1983–1989), the New York Mets (1989), the Los Angeles Dodgers (1990–1992), the Kansas City Royals (1992, 1995), the Cincinnati Reds (1993), the Detroit Tigers (1994–1995), and the Toronto Blue Jays (1996–1998).
- Did Juan Samuel win an MVP award?
- No. Juan Samuel did not win the MVP award.
- What awards did Juan Samuel win?
- Juan Samuel won the Silver Slugger award (1987). He was selected to 3 All-Star Games.
- What were Juan Samuel's career stats?
- In 1,720 games, Juan Samuel had 1,578 hits, 161 home runs, 703 RBI, 873 runs, and 396 stolen bases, with a .259 batting average.
- How much did Juan Samuel earn in his career?
- Juan Samuel's recorded salaries total $11,768,500 over 14 seasons, 1985 to 1998. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Samuel's career ran from 1983 to 1998. His seasons before 1985 are not included.
- What was Juan Samuel's salary?
- Juan Samuel's last recorded salary was $421,000, in 1998. His highest recorded salary was $2,325,000, in 1992, and his lowest was $240,000, in 1985. The Salary History table lists each season from 1985 to 1998.
- What position did Juan Samuel play?
- Juan Samuel played primarily as a second baseman, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Juan Samuel and how much did he weigh?
- Juan Samuel was listed at 5 feet 11 inches and 170 pounds.
- How many home runs did Juan Samuel hit each season?
- Juan Samuel's home runs by season: 2 in 1983, 15 in 1984, 19 in 1985, 16 in 1986, 28 in 1987, 12 in 1988, 11 in 1989, 13 in 1990, 12 in 1991, 0 in 1992, 4 in 1993, 5 in 1994, 12 in 1995, 8 in 1996, 3 in 1997, and 1 in 1998. His most in one season was 28, in 1987.
- What was Juan Samuel's career batting average?
- Juan Samuel batted .259 over his career, with 1,578 hits in 6,081 at bats.
- How many RBI did Juan Samuel have?
- Juan Samuel drove in 703 runs in his career.