J.D. Drew vs. Magglio Ordóñez: Two Right Fielders, One Verdict

June 17, 2026August 4, 2024 by Jake Cain

Last Updated: June 17, 2026

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Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Jake Cain

J.D. Drew and Magglio Ordóñez were two stellar right fielders of the 2000s. Their careers are filled with accomplishments and milestones that would make most players jealous. But how do these two outfielders stack up against each other? Join us as we compare their impact on the game, statistics, and accolades, and find out who comes out on top.

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JD Drew vs Magglio Ordonez — via Stathead

Rising Stars: Early Careers and Breakthroughs

J.D. Drew

J.D. Drew, born in Valdosta, Georgia, made his MLB debut with the St. Louis Cardinals on September 8, 1998. Right off the bat (pun intended), Drew showed promise, hitting .417 with 5 homers in just 14 games. Drafted second overall by the Phillies in 1997, Drew chose not to sign and instead played for the St. Paul Saints before being picked by the Cardinals in 1998. His decision paid off, and he quickly became a fan favorite despite some initial controversies.

Magglio Ordóñez

Magglio Ordóñez, born in Caracas, Venezuela, debuted for the Chicago White Sox on August 29, 1997. Known for his consistent hitting, Ordóñez quickly established himself as a reliable presence in the lineup. By 1999, he was an All-Star, a title he’d earn six times throughout his career. His early years with the White Sox were marked by steady improvement, culminating in some impressive seasons.

Statistical Showdown: Numbers Don’t Lie

Batting Averages and Power Numbers

J.D. Drew: Throughout his 14-season career, Drew boasted a .278 batting average, hit 242 home runs, and drove in 795 runs. His on-base percentage was an impressive .384, showcasing his ability to get on base consistently.
Magglio Ordóñez: Ordóñez, over 15 seasons, maintained a .309 batting average, hit 294 home runs, and had 1,236 RBIs. His OBP was .369, and he had a slugging percentage of .502, reflecting his power and consistency.

While Drew had a solid career, Ordóñez’s .309 average stands out, putting him in rarer air when it comes to batting consistency.

Key Seasons: Peaks and Highlights

Drew’s Best:
- 2004 with the Atlanta Braves: .305 average, 31 home runs, 93 RBIs. He also had a .436 OBP, showing his knack for drawing walks.
- 2008 with the Boston Red Sox: Named an All-Star and won the All-Star Game MVP. His power and patience were on full display.
Ordóñez’s Best:
- 2007 with the Detroit Tigers: An amazing .363 average, 28 home runs, and 139 RBIs. He led the AL in batting average and doubles (54).
- 1999-2001 with the Chicago White Sox: Three consecutive All-Star seasons, where he hit over .300 with at least 29 home runs each year.

Awards and Accolades

J.D. Drew

1× All-Star (2008)
World Series Champion (2007)
Golden Spikes Award (1997)
Dick Howser Trophy (1997)
MVP of the All-Star Game (2008)

Standard Batting
Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Pos	Awards
1998	22	STL	NL	14	41	36	9	15	3	1	5	13	0	0	4	10	.417	.463	.972	1.436	266	35	4	0	0	1	0	/79H8
1999	23	STL	NL	104	430	368	72	89	16	6	13	39	19	3	50	77	.242	.340	.424	.763	91	156	4	6	3	3	0	8/H7
2000	24	STL	NL	135	486	407	73	120	17	2	18	57	17	9	67	99	.295	.401	.479	.880	121	195	3	6	5	1	4	*987H
2001	25	STL	NL	109	443	375	80	121	18	5	27	73	13	3	57	75	.323	.414	.613	1.027	161	230	6	4	3	4	4	98/H7
2002	26	STL	NL	135	496	424	61	107	19	1	18	56	8	2	57	104	.252	.349	.429	.778	106	182	4	8	3	4	4	*9H/8
2003	27	STL	NL	100	328	287	60	83	13	3	15	42	2	2	36	48	.289	.374	.512	.886	132	147	6	3	2	0	0	9H8/7
2004	28	ATL	NL	145	645	518	118	158	28	8	31	93	12	3	118	116	.305	.436	.569	1.006	157	295	7	5	1	3	2	*9/8HD	MVP-6
2005	29	LAD	NL	72	311	252	48	72	12	1	15	36	1	1	51	50	.286	.412	.520	.931	145	131	3	5	0	3	3	98
2006	30	LAD	NL	146	594	494	84	140	34	6	20	100	2	3	89	106	.283	.393	.498	.891	126	246	4	4	1	6	8	*9H/D
2007	31	BOS	AL	140	552	466	84	126	30	4	11	64	4	2	79	100	.270	.373	.423	.796	105	197	12	1	0	6	10	*9H/8D
2008	32	BOS	AL	109	456	368	79	103	23	4	19	64	4	1	79	80	.280	.408	.519	.927	138	191	11	4	0	5	5	9/D8H	AS
2009	33	BOS	AL	137	539	452	84	126	30	4	24	68	2	6	82	109	.279	.392	.522	.914	134	236	6	3	1	1	5	*9/HD
2010	34	BOS	AL	139	546	478	69	122	24	2	22	68	3	1	60	105	.255	.341	.452	.793	109	216	12	4	0	4	3	*9H/D
2011	35	BOS	AL	81	286	248	23	55	6	1	4	22	0	1	33	58	.222	.315	.302	.617	68	75	2	2	0	3	4	9H
14 Yrs				1566	6153	5173	944	1437	273	48	242	795	87	37	862	1137	.278	.384	.489	.873	125	2532	84	55	19	44	52
162 Game Avg.				162	637	535	98	149	28	5	25	82	9	4	89	118	.278	.384	.489	.873	125	262	9	6	2	5	5

STL (6 yrs)				597	2224	1897	355	535	86	18	96	280	59	19	271	413	.282	.377	.498	.875	124	945	27	27	16	13	12
BOS (5 yrs)				606	2379	2012	339	532	113	15	80	286	13	11	333	452	.264	.370	.455	.824	114	915	43	14	1	19	27
LAD (2 yrs)				218	905	746	132	212	46	7	35	136	3	4	140	156	.284	.399	.505	.905	133	377	7	9	1	9	11
ATL (1 yr)				145	645	518	118	158	28	8	31	93	12	3	118	116	.305	.436	.569	1.006	157	295	7	5	1	3	2

NL (9 yrs)				960	3774	3161	605	905	160	33	162	509	74	26	529	685	.286	.393	.512	.904	132	1617	41	41	18	25	25
AL (5 yrs)				606	2379	2012	339	532	113	15	80	286	13	11	333	452	.264	.370	.455	.824	114	915	43	14	1	19	27

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/4/2024.

Magglio Ordóñez

6× All-Star (1999–2001, 2003, 2006, 2007)
3× Silver Slugger Award (2000, 2002, 2007)
AL Batting Champion (2007)
AL Comeback Player of the Year (2006)
World Series Appearance (2006 with Detroit Tigers)

Standard Batting
Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Pos	Awards
1997	23	CHW	AL	21	73	69	12	22	6	0	4	11	1	2	2	8	.319	.338	.580	.918	138	40	1	0	1	0	0	9/H
1998	24	CHW	AL	145	578	535	70	151	25	2	14	65	9	7	28	53	.282	.326	.415	.741	94	222	19	9	2	4	1	*98	RoY-5
1999	25	CHW	AL	157	677	624	100	188	34	3	30	117	13	6	47	64	.301	.349	.510	.858	115	318	24	1	0	5	4	*9/DH	AS
2000	26	CHW	AL	153	665	588	102	185	34	3	32	126	18	4	60	64	.315	.371	.546	.917	127	321	28	2	0	15	3	*9/H	AS,MVP-12,SS
2001	27	CHW	AL	160	671	593	97	181	40	1	31	113	25	7	70	70	.305	.382	.533	.914	134	316	14	5	0	3	7	*9/HD8	AS
2002	28	CHW	AL	153	654	590	116	189	47	1	38	135	7	5	53	77	.320	.381	.597	.978	154	352	21	7	0	3	2	*9/HD	MVP-8,SS
2003	29	CHW	AL	160	674	606	95	192	46	3	29	99	9	5	57	73	.317	.380	.546	.926	139	331	20	7	0	4	1	*9/8DH	AS,MVP-18
2004	30	CHW	AL	52	222	202	32	59	8	2	9	37	0	2	16	22	.292	.351	.485	.836	114	98	4	3	0	1	2	9/DH
2005	31	DET	AL	82	343	305	38	92	17	0	8	46	0	0	30	35	.302	.359	.436	.795	114	133	8	1	0	7	1	9/HD
2006	32	DET	AL	155	646	593	82	177	32	1	24	104	1	4	45	87	.298	.350	.477	.827	112	283	13	4	0	4	3	*9/DH	AS,MVP-22
2007	33	DET	AL	157	679	595	117	216	54	0	28	139	4	1	76	79	*.363*	.434	.595	1.029	166	354	20	2	0	5	8	*9D/H	AS,MVP-2,SS
2008	34	DET	AL	146	623	561	72	178	32	2	21	103	1	5	53	76	.317	.376	.494	.869	127	277	27	3	0	6	2	*9D/H
2009	35	DET	AL	131	518	465	54	144	24	2	9	50	3	1	51	65	.310	.376	.428	.804	111	199	19	0	0	2	2	9D/H
2010	36	DET	AL	84	365	323	56	98	17	1	12	59	1	0	40	38	.303	.378	.474	.852	129	153	14	0	0	2	0	9D
2011	37	DET	AL	92	357	329	33	84	10	0	5	32	2	1	23	41	.255	.303	.331	.634	73	109	10	1	0	4	0	9D/H
15 Yrs				1848	7745	6978	1076	2156	426	21	294	1236	94	50	651	852	.309	.369	.502	.871	125	3506	242	45	3	65	36
162 Game Avg.				162	679	612	94	189	37	2	26	108	8	4	57	75	.309	.369	.502	.871	125	307	21	4	0	6	3

CHW (8 yrs)				1001	4214	3807	624	1167	240	15	187	703	82	38	333	431	.307	.364	.525	.889	127	1998	131	34	3	35	20
DET (7 yrs)				847	3531	3171	452	989	186	6	107	533	12	12	318	421	.312	.373	.476	.849	123	1508	111	11	0	30	16

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/4/2024.

When it comes to individual awards, Ordóñez clearly has the edge with more All-Star selections and Silver Slugger Awards, showcasing his consistent performance at the plate.

Injuries and Comebacks

J.D. Drew

Drew’s career was unfortunately marred by injuries. Despite his talent, he found himself on the injured list multiple times, especially during his years with the Cardinals. However, this didn’t stop him from having standout seasons, especially with Atlanta and Boston. His perseverance paid off with a World Series ring in 2007 and an All-Star MVP in 2008.

Magglio Ordóñez

Ordóñez also faced his share of injuries, most notably a severe knee injury in 2004. However, he bounced back spectacularly with the Detroit Tigers, even leading the league in batting average in 2007. His resilience and ability to come back stronger each time solidified his legacy as one of the greats.

Impact on the Game

J.D. Drew

Drew’s impact on the game was more subtle but substantial. Known for his disciplined approach at the plate, he drew a lot of walks, reflected in his high OBP. He provided stability and power for his teams, contributing significantly to the Red Sox’s 2007 World Series win.

Magglio Ordóñez

Ordóñez had a more pronounced impact, especially with his memorable moments and consistent prowess at the plate. His walk-off homer in Game 4 of the 2006 ALCS remains one of the most iconic moments in Tigers’ history. His ability to hit both for average and power made him a versatile and dangerous hitter.

Legacy and Post-Career

J.D. Drew

Drew retired after the 2011 season, leaving behind a legacy of what-ifs due to injuries. However, his career numbers and key performances, especially in the postseason, still resonate with fans. He’s remembered for his calm demeanor and his ability to deliver in high-pressure situations.

Magglio Ordóñez

Ordóñez retired in 2012 and transitioned into public service, being elected mayor of the Juan Antonio Sotillo Municipality in Venezuela. His legacy is that of a reliable and clutch performer, especially remembered for his 2007 season and his walk-off homer in the ALCS. His post-career endeavors show his dedication and commitment beyond baseball.

Conclusion

J.D. Drew and Magglio Ordóñez both enjoyed careers many players can only dream of. Drew’s disciplined approach and key moments contrasted with Ordóñez’s consistent hitting and memorable highlights make for a fascinating comparison.

In the end, both players contributed significantly to their teams and left lasting impressions on fans. While Ordóñez might have the edge in terms of accolades and statistical consistency, Drew’s moments of brilliance and perseverance through injuries make his career equally admirable.