Last Updated: July 22nd, 2024 by Jake Cain
Bryce Harper and Christian Yelich are two of the game’s brightest stars. When they step onto the field, they bring excitement, power, and skill that captivate baseball fans everywhere. Both are MVPs, but how do their careers compare? Let’s dive into the stats, accolades, and impact these two superstars have had on the game so far.
Early Career and Expectations
Bryce Harper
Bryce Harper’s journey to the major leagues is the stuff of legend. Dubbed a “five-tool player” early on, he left Las Vegas High School and earned his GED to fast-track his entry into the MLB Draft. His extraordinary talent was showcased at the College of Southern Nevada, where he hit 31 home runs in 66 games and won the 2010 Golden Spikes Award. The Washington Nationals made him the first overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft, and Harper debuted in 2012 at just 19 years old. He quickly lived up to the hype, winning the NL Rookie of the Year award in his first season.
Christian Yelich
Christian Yelich’s climb to the majors was less heralded but equally impressive. Born in Thousand Oaks, California, he excelled at Westlake High School before the Miami Marlins selected him 23rd overall in the 2010 MLB Draft. Yelich debuted in 2013 and quickly demonstrated his potential with consistent hitting and solid defense. His versatility and batting skills earned him a Gold Glove Award in 2014, making him the franchise’s youngest player to win the award.
Batting Prowess and Plate Discipline
Bryce Harper
Harper is known for his raw power. As of May 25, 2024, he’s hit 319 home runs with a .281 batting average. Harper’s standout season came in 2015 when he led the NL in home runs (42) and had an OPS of 1.109, earning him his first MVP award. His career on-base percentage (OBP) of .396 underscores his ability to get on base and drive in runs. Harper’s discipline at the plate has remained consistent, making him a formidable hitter year after year.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 19 | WSN | NL | 139 | 597 | 533 | 98 | 144 | 26 | 9 | 22 | 59 | 18 | 6 | 56 | 120 | .270 | .340 | .477 | .817 | 118 | 254 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | *89/7H | AS,MVP-30,RoY-1 |
| 2013 | 20 | WSN | NL | 118 | 497 | 424 | 71 | 116 | 24 | 3 | 20 | 58 | 11 | 4 | 61 | 94 | .274 | .368 | .486 | .854 | 133 | 206 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | *79/8H | AS |
| 2014 | 21 | WSN | NL | 100 | 395 | 352 | 41 | 96 | 10 | 2 | 13 | 32 | 2 | 2 | 38 | 104 | .273 | .344 | .423 | .768 | 111 | 149 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 79/8H | |
| 2015 | 22 | WSN | NL | 153 | 654 | 521 | 118 | 172 | 38 | 1 | 42 | 99 | 6 | 4 | 124 | 131 | .330 | .460 | .649 | 1.109 | 198 | 338 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 15 | *98/D | AS,MVP-1,SS |
| 2016 | 23 | WSN | NL | 147 | 627 | 506 | 84 | 123 | 24 | 2 | 24 | 86 | 21 | 10 | 108 | 117 | .243 | .373 | .441 | .814 | 114 | 223 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 20 | *9/H | AS |
| 2017 | 24 | WSN | NL | 111 | 492 | 420 | 95 | 134 | 27 | 1 | 29 | 87 | 4 | 2 | 68 | 99 | .319 | .413 | .595 | 1.008 | 156 | 250 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 11 | *9/H | AS,MVP-12 |
| 2018 | 25 | WSN | NL | 159 | 695 | 550 | 103 | 137 | 34 | 0 | 34 | 100 | 13 | 3 | 130 | 169 | .249 | .393 | .496 | .889 | 133 | 273 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 16 | *98/H3D | AS |
| 2019 | 26 | PHI | NL | 157 | 682 | 573 | 98 | 149 | 36 | 1 | 35 | 114 | 15 | 3 | 99 | 178 | .260 | .372 | .510 | .882 | 126 | 292 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 11 | *9/HD | |
| 2020 | 27 | PHI | NL | 58 | 244 | 190 | 41 | 51 | 9 | 2 | 13 | 33 | 8 | 2 | 49 | 43 | .268 | .420 | .542 | .962 | 158 | 103 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | *9D/8 | |
| 2021 | 28 | PHI | NL | 141 | 599 | 488 | 101 | 151 | 42 | 1 | 35 | 84 | 13 | 3 | 100 | 134 | .309 | .429 | .615 | 1.044 | 179 | 300 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 14 | *9/D3 | MVP-1,SS |
| 2022 | 29 | PHI | NL | 99 | 426 | 370 | 63 | 106 | 28 | 1 | 18 | 65 | 11 | 4 | 46 | 87 | .286 | .364 | .514 | .877 | 146 | 190 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 9 | D/9H | AS |
| 2023 | 30 | PHI | NL | 126 | 546 | 457 | 84 | 134 | 29 | 1 | 21 | 72 | 11 | 3 | 80 | 119 | .293 | .401 | .499 | .900 | 144 | 228 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 8 | D3/H | MVP-12,SS |
| 2024 | 31 | PHI | NL | 51 | 223 | 187 | 32 | 50 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 41 | 3 | 2 | 34 | 50 | .267 | .377 | .524 | .901 | 157 | 98 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | *3/D | |
| 13 Yrs | 1559 | 6677 | 5571 | 1029 | 1563 | 336 | 24 | 319 | 930 | 136 | 48 | 993 | 1445 | .281 | .390 | .521 | .911 | 143 | 2904 | 123 | 44 | 12 | 57 | 126 | |||||
| 162 Game Avg. | 162 | 694 | 579 | 107 | 162 | 35 | 2 | 33 | 97 | 14 | 5 | 103 | 150 | .281 | .390 | .521 | .911 | 143 | 302 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 13 | |||||
| WSN (7 yrs) | 927 | 3957 | 3306 | 610 | 922 | 183 | 18 | 184 | 521 | 75 | 31 | 585 | 834 | .279 | .388 | .512 | .900 | 139 | 1693 | 66 | 23 | 9 | 34 | 70 | |||||
| PHI (6 yrs) | 632 | 2720 | 2265 | 419 | 641 | 153 | 6 | 135 | 409 | 61 | 17 | 408 | 611 | .283 | .394 | .535 | .928 | 149 | 1211 | 57 | 21 | 3 | 23 | 56 | |||||
Christian Yelich
Yelich, on the other hand, is celebrated for his balanced approach at the plate. By May 25, 2024, he has accumulated 198 home runs and a .286 batting average. Yelich’s breakout season was in 2018, where he achieved a .326 average with 36 home runs and 110 RBIs, winning the NL MVP award. He led the league in batting average and slugging percentage again in 2019, proving his prowess. Yelich’s career OBP is an impressive .378, showcasing his keen eye and consistency.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 21 | MIA | NL | 62 | 273 | 240 | 34 | 69 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 10 | 0 | 31 | 66 | .288 | .370 | .396 | .766 | 112 | 95 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7/8H | |
| 2014 | 22 | MIA | NL | 144 | 660 | 582 | 94 | 165 | 30 | 6 | 9 | 54 | 21 | 7 | 70 | 137 | .284 | .362 | .402 | .764 | 115 | 234 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | *78/H | GG |
| 2015 | 23 | MIA | NL | 126 | 525 | 476 | 63 | 143 | 30 | 2 | 7 | 44 | 16 | 5 | 47 | 101 | .300 | .366 | .416 | .782 | 118 | 198 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | *78/H | |
| 2016 | 24 | MIA | NL | 155 | 659 | 578 | 78 | 172 | 38 | 3 | 21 | 98 | 9 | 4 | 72 | 138 | .298 | .376 | .483 | .859 | 135 | 279 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 4 | *78/HD | MVP-19,SS |
| 2017 | 25 | MIA | NL | 156 | 695 | 602 | 100 | 170 | 36 | 2 | 18 | 81 | 16 | 2 | 80 | 137 | .282 | .369 | .439 | .807 | 120 | 264 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 4 | *8/H | |
| 2018 | 26 | MIL | NL | 147 | 651 | 574 | 118 | 187 | 34 | 7 | 36 | 110 | 22 | 4 | 68 | 135 | .326 | .402 | .598 | 1.000 | 164 | 343 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | *798/H | AS,MVP-1,SS |
| 2019 | 27 | MIL | NL | 130 | 580 | 489 | 100 | 161 | 29 | 3 | 44 | 97 | 30 | 2 | 80 | 118 | .329 | .429 | .671 | 1.100 | 179 | 328 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 16 | *9/7HD8 | AS,MVP-2,SS |
| 2020 | 28 | MIL | NL | 58 | 247 | 200 | 39 | 41 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 46 | 76 | .205 | .356 | .430 | .786 | 110 | 86 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | *7/D | |
| 2021 | 29 | MIL | NL | 117 | 475 | 399 | 70 | 99 | 19 | 2 | 9 | 51 | 9 | 3 | 70 | 113 | .248 | .362 | .373 | .736 | 101 | 149 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7H/D9 | |
| 2022 | 30 | MIL | NL | 154 | 671 | 575 | 99 | 145 | 25 | 4 | 14 | 57 | 19 | 3 | 88 | 162 | .252 | .355 | .383 | .738 | 109 | 220 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 5 | *7D/H | |
| 2023 | 31 | MIL | NL | 144 | 632 | 550 | 106 | 153 | 34 | 1 | 19 | 76 | 28 | 3 | 78 | 140 | .278 | .370 | .447 | .818 | 122 | 246 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | *7D/H | |
| 2024 | 32 | MIL | NL | 28 | 120 | 104 | 17 | 31 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 15 | 26 | .298 | .387 | .519 | .906 | 159 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7/D | |
| 12 Yrs | 1421 | 6188 | 5369 | 918 | 1536 | 298 | 34 | 198 | 725 | 191 | 36 | 745 | 1349 | .286 | .376 | .465 | .841 | 129 | 2496 | 114 | 43 | 4 | 25 | 52 | |||||
| 162 Game Avg. | 162 | 705 | 612 | 105 | 175 | 34 | 4 | 23 | 83 | 22 | 4 | 85 | 154 | .286 | .376 | .465 | .841 | 129 | 285 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 6 | |||||
| MIL (7 yrs) | 778 | 3376 | 2891 | 549 | 817 | 152 | 20 | 139 | 432 | 119 | 18 | 445 | 770 | .283 | .382 | .493 | .875 | 136 | 1426 | 55 | 27 | 1 | 11 | 38 | |||||
| MIA (5 yrs) | 643 | 2812 | 2478 | 369 | 719 | 146 | 14 | 59 | 293 | 72 | 18 | 300 | 579 | .290 | .369 | .432 | .800 | 121 | 1070 | 59 | 16 | 3 | 14 | 14 | |||||
Awards and Accolades
Bryce Harper’s Awards and Achievements
- 2× NL MVP (2015, 2021)
- 7× All-Star (2012, 2013, 2015–2018, 2022)
- NLCS MVP (2022)
- NL Rookie of the Year (2012)
- 3× Silver Slugger Award (2015, 2021, 2023)
- 2× NL Hank Aaron Award (2015, 2021)
- NL home run leader (2015)
- Home Run Derby champion (2018)
- Golden Spikes Award (2010)
Christian Yelich’s Awards and Achievements
- NL MVP (2018)
- 2× All-Star (2018, 2019)
- Gold Glove Award (2014)
- All-MLB First Team (2019)
- 3× Silver Slugger Award (2016, 2018, 2019)
- 2× NL Hank Aaron Award (2018, 2019)
- 2× NL batting champion (2018, 2019)
- 3× Hit for the cycle (2018², 2022)
- 30–30 club (2019)
- All-World Baseball Classic Team (2017)
Key Moments and Impact
Bryce Harper
Bryce Harper’s career has been defined by significant moments and milestones. From his unanimous MVP win in 2015 at age 22 to his record-setting 13-year, $330 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2019, Harper has continually proven his worth. His playoff heroics in 2022, leading the Phillies to their first World Series appearance since 2009 and earning NLCS MVP honors, cemented his legacy as a clutch performer.
Christian Yelich
Christian Yelich’s impact has been felt through his consistency and stellar playoff performances. His 2018 season is one for the ages, where he led the Brewers to the playoffs, hitting for the cycle twice in the same season. Yelich’s back-to-back batting titles in 2018 and 2019, along with his 2018 MVP award, have solidified his reputation as one of baseball’s most reliable hitters. Despite a knee injury that cut short his 2019 season, Yelich’s contributions have been invaluable to the Brewers’ success.
Career Longevity and Future Prospects
Bryce Harper
At 31, Harper shows no signs of slowing down. With two MVP awards and a career still going strong, Harper could easily surpass many milestones, including 500 home runs. His leadership on and off the field continues to inspire teammates and fans alike, making him a potential Hall of Famer.
Christian Yelich
Yelich, now 32, has had his share of injuries but remains a key player for the Brewers. His versatility and consistent batting make him a valuable asset. With several productive years ahead, Yelich could see himself reaching new heights, further solidifying his legacy in MLB.
Comparing by the Numbers
Batting Average
- Harper: .281
- Yelich: .286
Home Runs
- Harper: 319
- Yelich: 198
RBIs
- Harper: 930
- Yelich: 725
Stolen Bases
- Harper: 136
- Yelich: 191
OBP
- Harper: .396
- Yelich: .378
Walks
- Harper: consistently high walk rate
- Yelich: notable eye at the plate
Conclusion
Comparing Bryce Harper and Christian Yelich is not about declaring a definitive winner but appreciating their unique paths and contributions to the game. Whether you prefer Harper’s explosive style or Yelich’s smooth consistency, there’s no denying both players have enriched the game of baseball, creating unforgettable moments and promising many more to come.