Hall of Fame Induction Prospects
In a significant moment for baseball fans, Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones are poised for possible induction into the Hall of Fame this Tuesday, with the results from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) voting set to be revealed. Current tracking of the ballots shows Beltrán, a nine-time All-Star, receiving an impressive 89.2% approval based on 223 ballots accounted for by Ryan Thibodaux’s online tracker. Similarly, Jones has garnered 83%, both exceeding the necessary 75%% threshold required for enshrinement in Cooperstown, New York.
Career Highlights and Voting Trends
Beltrán, whose Hall of Fame candidacy is in its fourth year, has demonstrated notable upward momentum. His initial voting percentage in 2023 was 46.5%, which climbed to 57.1% the following year, and reached 70.3% in 2025, leaving him just a stone’s throw away from induction as he was only 19 votes shy that year, which saw the election of Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner.
Jones, in contrast, is on his ninth appearance on the BBWAA ballot. He faced a rocky start in his first year in 2018, where he managed only 7.3% of the votes. However, his fortunes improved over the years, notably achieving 58.1% in 2023 and ultimately reaching 66.2% in 2025, falling just 35 votes short of induction.
Controversies and Achievements
If elected, Beltrán and Jones would join Jeff Kent, who was elected last month by the contemporary era committee. Kent had amassed only a peak of 46.5%% in BBWAA votes from 2014 to 2023. Only BBWAA members with a minimum of ten consecutive years could cast ballots in this election, further shaping the outcome.
Beltrán’s career is notable not only for his impressive stats—hitting .279 with 435 home runs and 1,587 RBIs over two decades—but also for the controversy surrounding him. As the MLB’s 1999 American League Rookie of the Year and a three-time Gold Glove awardee, he also boasts a strong postseason performance with a .307 batting average. Yet, his short stint as the Mets’ manager in 2019 ended abruptly when he was implicated in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, a chapter that still colors discussions of his legacy today.
“Looking back, we did wrong,”
he acknowledged in a 2022 interview, reflecting on the past.
Meanwhile, Jones also carved out an impressive career as a five-time All-Star, hitting 434 home runs and securing 10 Gold Glove awards during his time with teams like the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago White Sox. He began his major league journey at a young age and made history at the age of 19 by becoming the youngest player to hit a home run in a World Series game.
Other Candidates and Future Prospects
As votes continue to be counted, some other candidates are also in play, albeit with less promising prospects. Chase Utley, for instance, has garnered 68.2%, while both Andy Pettitte and Félix Hernández sit below the 60% mark. Notably, both Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez are lagging behind, affected by past suspensions related to performance-enhancing drugs.
Looking to the future, notable names like Buster Posey and Jon Lester are set to debut on the 2027 ballot, with further strong contenders such as Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina entering the mix in 2028.
