Carlos Beltrán, a former MLB outfielder, is on track to potentially be voted into the Hall of Fame next year. Despite falling 19 votes short of the required 75% for induction in his third year on the ballot, Beltrán is in a favorable position to make it eventually, given the maximum 10-year eligibility. With a ballot open for next year and no expected first-ballot inductees, Beltrán could be a strong contender for induction.
Another center fielder, Andruw Jones, saw an increase in approval rating from 61.6% to 66.2% this year, positioning him as a potential candidate for next year. However, with only two years left on the ballot, Jones may need a more significant increase to secure induction.
New candidates for the 2026 Hall of Fame ballot include Cole Hamels, Ryan Braun, Matt Kemp, Rick Porcello, and Alex Gordon. Hamels, known for his World Series MVP performance, and Braun, a former NL MVP with a drug suspension history, are among the notable names.
Manny Ramirez will have his final chance for induction next year after receiving 34.3% of the vote this year, hindered by his past drug suspensions despite his impressive career stats.
Andy Pettitte's approval rating more than doubled this year, potentially influenced by CC Sabathia's high support. However, Pettitte faces challenges due to his admission of using performance-enhancing drugs and limited remaining years on the ballot.
Among the first-time candidates this year, Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia were elected into the Hall of Fame, while Dustin Pedroia and Félix Hernández cleared the 5% threshold to stay on the ballot. Hernández, with a promising career ERA but lacking longevity, has room for growth in future years.
Looking ahead, the 2027 Hall of Fame newcomers are relatively ordinary, with Buster Posey standing out. The potential for multiple first-ballot inductees in 2028 (Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina) and 2029 (Miguel Cabrera, Zack Greinke, Joey Votto) presents exciting prospects for future Hall of Fame classes.
