UPDATE: The highly anticipated Hall of Fame voting results from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America will be revealed today at 6 PM ET. Fans are eagerly awaiting to see if center fielders Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones will secure their spots in the Class of 2026, alongside last year’s inductee Jeff Kent.
This year’s ballot has drawn attention for its perceived lack of star power, with only one notable newcomer, pitcher Cole Hamels, who has a career WAR of 57.9. Last year, the ballot featured high-profile names like Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia, but this year’s candidates total just 27, combining for 1,282 WAR, a stark contrast to the 1,672 WAR from the top 37 candidates in the 2013 ballot.
Fans are particularly keen to see if Beltran, who received 70.3% of the vote last year, can maintain momentum; he is currently polling at 89.2% on publicly revealed ballots. Meanwhile, Jones is tracking at 83.5%, having received 66.2% last year. Despite the optimism, both players face uncertainty, as previous polls have shown significant drops before final results.
Historically, votes require a 75% approval to secure induction, with a minimum of 5% needed to stay on the ballot. Writers can vote for up to 10 players, and candidates have a maximum of 10 years on the ballot.
The need for more center fielders in the Hall is evident. Currently, only four center fielders are inducted who played primarily after 1960: Willie Mays, Andre Dawson, Kirby Puckett, and Ken Griffey Jr.. Beltran ranks fourth among center fielders with a career WAR of 70.0, boasting impressive stats of 435 home runs, 2,725 hits, and 1,587 RBIs.
As for Chase Utley, he’s showing promise in this year’s return with a public polling increase from 39.8% to 67.9%. His case is bolstered by a strong peak performance period, and he aims to follow in the footsteps of Todd Helton, who was elected in 2024.
For Cole Hamels, this marks his first appearance on the ballot. He was instrumental in the 2008 World Series victory for the Philadelphia Phillies and possesses 163 career wins. His adjusted ERA of 123 places him in favorable company, though he lacks a Cy Young Award.
The Hall of Fame voting process is under scrutiny as voters weigh the value of peak performance against longevity. The results of this year’s ballot are crucial not only for the players involved but also for the evolving standards of what it means to be a Hall of Famer.
Stay tuned for the results announced later today, which will likely shape discussions around Hall of Fame voting criteria for years to come. Will Beltran and Jones break through, or will they face another year of uncertainty? The baseball community is on the edge of their seats.
