Carlos Beltrán leads Hall of Fame ballot as Hamels, Braun and Kemp join the field

The Baseball Hall of Fame statement is shifting backmost to Carlos Beltrán, who erstwhile again leads a heavy radical of candidates connected the caller ballot released Monday. The 42-year-old fell conscionable 19 votes abbreviated successful 2025, drafting 70.3% enactment successful a twelvemonth erstwhile Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner were elected.

Beltrán’s résumé remains strong: 9 All-Star appearances, a .279 average, 435 location runs and 1,587 RBIs crossed 17 seasons with teams specified arsenic the Royals, Astros, Mets, Cardinals, Yankees, Rangers and Giants. His voting way grounds shows dependable progress, from 46.5% successful 2023 to 57.1% successful 2024 earlier past year’s jump.

Voters inactive request to determine however overmuch to measurement his relation successful the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal. He was the lone subordinate named successful commissioner Rob Manfred’s 2020 study connected the amerciable usage of electronics, a uncovering that outgo him the New York Mets’ managerial occupation conscionable 3 days aft the study was released.

Newcomers articulation a ballot afloat of storylines

Twelve first-time candidates articulation Beltrán and 14 different holdovers. Cole Hamels, Ryan Braun and Matt Kemp header the newcomers, alongside Howie Kendrick, Daniel Murphy, Rick Porcello, Shin-Soo Choo, Edwin Encarnación, Gio González, Alex Gordon, Nick Markakis and Hunter Pence.

Hamels, a four-time All-Star, went 163-122 with a 3.43 ERA and threw a no-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies astatine Wrigley Field successful 2015, earning MVP honors successful some the 2008 NLCS and World Series. Braun brings an MVP award, a .296 mean and 352 location runs, on with a analyzable bequest aft his 2013 PED suspension and an earlier overturned 50-game ban. Kemp offers a three-time All-Star illustration with 287 homers and implicit 1,000 RBIs.

Holdovers see Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Andruw Jones, Chase Utley, Andy Pettitte, Félix Hernández, Bobby Abreu, Jimmy Rollins, Omar Vizquel, Dustin Pedroia, Mark Buehrle, Francisco Rodríguez, David Wright and Torii Hunter. BBWAA members with astatine slightest 10 consecutive years of work indispensable message ballots by Dec. 31, with results announced Jan. 20 and immoderate caller inductees honored connected July 26 successful Cooperstown.

Another way to Cooperstown

While writers benignant done this ballot, a abstracted modern shot epoch committee volition measurement Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela, offering a 2nd way for immoderate of the game’s astir debated stars.