The 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame: A Deep and Complex Ballot
The wait is almost over, as the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame class will be announced on January 21st. This year’s ballot is stacked with talented players, making it a challenging task for voters to select the most deserving candidates.
Ichiro Suzuki: A No-Brainer
Ichiro Suzuki is a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame, with an impressive 3,089 career hits, despite starting his MLB career at 27. His exceptional contact hitting and brilliant defense in right field make him a standout player. While I hope he doesn’t get in unanimously, Ichiro is undoubtedly a Hall of Famer.
C.C. Sabathia: A Dominant Force
C.C. Sabathia’s career is a testament to his remarkable achievements. He won a World Series, Cy Young Award, and accumulated 251 wins in an era where 300-game winners are a rarity. With 3,093 strikeouts, Sabathia is 18th all-time. He’s tracking at 89.4% and is likely to get in on his first ballot.
Andruw Jones: A Defensive Mastermind
Andruw Jones, the best defensive centerfielder I’ve ever seen, is surprisingly not yet in the Hall of Fame. Despite having only 1,933 hits, his peak was incredibly special, earning him 10 Gold Gloves and a defensive WAR of 22nd all-time. While he may not get in this year, Jones will likely be enshrined in the near future.
Billy Wagner: A Dominant Closer
Billy Wagner’s career was marked by consistency and dominance. With a career ERA of 2.31 and a K/9 IP rate of 11.9, he’s one of the greatest closers in baseball history. Although he had postseason struggles, it’s unfair to judge his entire career on those 11.2 IP. Wagner is tracking at 85.6% and will likely get in on his last year on the ballot.
Bobby Abreu: A Consistent Force
Bobby Abreu may not get in this year, but he deserves recognition for his incredible batting eye, baserunning skills, and power. With 100+ walks in eight consecutive years and 25th all-time in doubles, Abreu’s consistency is admirable. While he may not have been a dominant player, his overall contributions make him a worthy candidate.
Carlos Beltran: A Complex Case
Carlos Beltran’s case is complicated due to his involvement in the 2017 Astros’ cheating scandal. While I wouldn’t vote for steroid/PED users, I’m willing to make an exception for Beltran. This moral gray area makes Hall of Fame voting messy, but Beltran’s on-field achievements and likely induction (tracking at 76.0%) make him a complex and intriguing case.
The Muddy Waters of Hall of Fame Voting
This year’s ballot highlights the challenges of Hall of Fame voting. With so many deserving candidates, it’s difficult to draw a clear line between those who get in and those who don’t. Ultimately, Ichiro, Sabathia, and Wagner will likely get in, but after that, it gets murky. Any combination of names on a ballot can be justified, making the Hall of Fame a moral test of which offenses bother us less.
Leave a Reply