2026 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot: 10 things to know, including the newcomers, the PED guys, and a prediction
The ballot for the BBWAA portion of the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame class was revealed on Monday, featuring 15 returning players and 12 newcomers. The full list includes Bobby Abreu, Carlos Beltrán, Ryan Braun, Mark Buehrle, Shin-Soo Choo, Edwin Encarnación, Gio González, Alex Gordon, Cole Hamels, Félix Hernández, Torii Hunter, Andruw Jones, Matt Kemp, Howie Kendrick, Nick Markakis, Daniel Murphy, Dustin Pedroia, Hunter Pence, Andy Pettitte, Rick Porcello, Manny Ramírez, Álex Rodríguez, Francisco Rodríguez, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Omar Vizquel, and David Wright.
Players who receive at least 75% of the Hall of Fame vote are inducted. Those who don't make the cut need to receive at least 5% of the vote to stay on the ballot, with a 10-year limit. Here's a breakdown of the key points:
- Multiple Hall of Fame Votes: The BBWAA vote isn't the only one. The Contemporary Era Committee evaluates players whose greatest contributions came from 1980-present, with Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Gary Sheffield, and Fernando Valenzuela up for consideration.
- First-Time Class: The 2026 ballot likely won't see any first-ballot Hall of Famers, unlike recent years. Cole Hamels is the top candidate, with a strong resume, but others like Ryan Braun and Alex Gordon face challenges due to PED scandals.
- Beltrán's Chance: Carlos Beltrán has a strong on-field resume, but his connection to the 2017 Astros sign-stealing scandal might hinder his progress. However, the distance from the scandal could help his case.
- Andruw Jones' Struggles: Jones has struggled to gain Hall of Fame support, with a steady rise but a plateau in recent years. His ninth year on the ballot is crucial.
- Manny Ramírez's Last Hurrah: Manny Ramírez, a legendary slugger, faces a challenging final cycle due to his PED suspensions. His highest vote percentage was 34.3%.
- A-Rod's Future: Alex Rodríguez, a clear all-time great, has received only 37.1% of the vote so far. His PED suspension and the Biogenesis scandal might limit his Hall of Fame chances.
- Utley's Potential Leap: Chase Utley, a peak Hall of Fame candidate, has seen a steady rise in votes. With a strong case and a potential for a significant gain, he could be a strong contender.
- Starting Pitchers' Challenge: The workload for starting pitchers has decreased, making it harder for them to meet the Hall of Fame standard. Many voters advocate for lowering the bar, and the 2025 ballot saw some progress.
- Holdovers' Progress: Players like Bobby Abreu, Jimmy Rollins, Omar Vizquel, Dustin Pedroia, Francisco Rodríguez, David Wright, and Torii Hunter are returning. The biggest intrigue is whether Wright and Hunter stay on the ballot.
- Prediction: The author predicts Beltrán's induction, a plateau for Jones, and a significant leap for Utley, who could be within striking range of the Hall of Fame.
