Carlos Beltrán’s potential induction into the Hall of Fame appears imminent, with many believing that next year could be his year, as the ballot is open for new candidates. Recently, Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner were announced as inductees following the voting results from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Beltrán fell just 19 votes short of the required 75% needed for induction during this recent election.
This marks only Beltrán’s third year on the ballot, out of a possible ten, putting him in a favorable position for future votes. The upcoming election is expected to work to his advantage due to a lack of strong first-ballot candidates, with Cole Hamels and Ryan Braun likely to lead the new entrants. Ryan Thibodaux, who monitors ballot trends, mentioned that Beltrán is the closest to achieving the necessary votes to gain entry, suggesting that if the BBWAA is inclined to elect anyone, it will likely be him.
Andruw Jones, another center fielder, did see a rise in his approval ratings, moving from 61.6% to 66.2%, giving him potential for success next year. However, Jones has only two remaining years on the ballot to make significant strides. Thibodaux noted that while Jones is not in a bad position, he will need to demonstrate stronger support to ensure his chances for election.
As for next year’s first-time candidates, Hamels boasts a career record of 163-122 and an impressive 3.43 ERA over 15 seasons, along with being the MVP of the 2008 World Series. Meanwhile, Braun’s history includes 14 seasons solely with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he achieved National League MVP status in 2011 but also faced challenges due to a drug suspension which may hinder his candidacy.
Other newcomers anticipated for next year include Matt Kemp, who was a runner-up for MVP during Braun’s award-winning year; Rick Porcello, the 2016 Cy Young Award recipient; and longtime player Alex Gordon of the Kansas City Royals.
For Manny Ramirez, next year will mark his last opportunity to appear on the ballot after receiving 34.3% of the votes this time, as his history of drug suspension has impacted his eligibility despite his remarkable achievement of 555 home runs.
Another candidate, Andy Pettitte, saw a notable increase in support, with his voting percentage rising from 13.5% to 27.9%. This climb may be attributed to Sabathia’s successful election, as both players have close career statistics. However, Pettitte faces hurdles, namely his admission to using performance-enhancing drugs and the limited time left on the ballot, with only three years remaining.
Among the first-time candidates this year, Suzuki and Sabathia were successfully inducted, while Félix Hernández and Dustin Pedroia managed to secure over 5% of the vote, allowing them to remain in the running. While Hernández posted a 20.6% approval rating, his 3.42 career ERA places him favorably compared to others, and he has the potential for progress in the coming years.
Looking ahead, the 2027 ballot does not present formidable new candidates, creating an opportunity for those currently on the ballot to gain traction. Future years appear promising as well, with potential first-ballot inductees like Buster Posey expected in 2028 and well-known players like Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Zack Greinke, and Joey Votto possibly entering the ballot shortly after.
