At a Glance
- Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday.
- Beltrán received 358 of 425 votes (84.2%) in his fourth ballot appearance.
- Jones earned 333 votes (78.4%) in his ninth appearance on the ballot.
- Why it matters: The induction adds two elite center fielders to Cooperstown and highlights different paths to baseball immortality.
Two star center fielders, Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones, secured their spots in baseball’s most exclusive club. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced their election Tuesday, ending years of ballot suspense for both players.
Beltrán’s Steady Climb
Beltrán’s election came after a methodical rise through the voting ranks. He jumped from 46.5% in 2023 to 57.1% the following year, then 70.3% in 2025 before crossing the 75% threshold this cycle.
The switch-hitter’s credentials include:
- .279 career batting average
- 435 home runs (311 left-handed, 124 right-handed)
- 1,587 RBIs
- Three Gold Gloves
- Nine All-Star selections
He was also the 1999 AL Rookie of the Year and hit .307 in postseason play with 16 homers and 42 RBIs across 65 games.
Jones’ Long Wait
Jones needed nine tries to gain entry, a testament to patience and persistence. His support climbed from just 7.3% in 2018 to 58.1% in 2023, then 61.6%, 66.2%, and finally 78.4% this year.
Despite a .254 batting average-the second-lowest for a position player in the Hall-Jones’ overall impact was undeniable:
- 434 home runs
- 1,289 RBIs
- 152 stolen bases
- 10 Gold Gloves
- Five All-Star appearances
Jones becomes the latest Brave enshrined, joining teammates Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Chipper Jones, and manager Bobby Cox.
Near-Misses and Falling Short
Chase Utley led the also-rans with 59.1%, up from 39.8% last year. Andy Pettitte rose to 48.5% from 27.9%, while Félix Hernández jumped to 46.1% from 20.6%.
Cole Hamels topped first-time candidates at 23.8%. All other newcomers failed to reach the 5% threshold and will be dropped from future ballots.
Steroids-linked players again failed to gain traction:
- Alex Rodriguez: 40% in his fifth appearance
- Manny Ramirez: 38.8% in his final appearance
David Wright improved to 14.8% from 8.1%, while 11 ballots were submitted blank.
Controversy and Redemption
Beltrán’s path to Cooperstown included a managerial detour. He was hired as the New York Mets’ manager on November 1, 2019, then fired on January 16 without managing a game. The dismissal came after he was the only Astros player named in MLB’s report on Houston’s electronic sign-stealing during their 2017 World Series run.
The writers ultimately decided his on-field accomplishments outweighed the off-field issues.
The Induction Class
Beltrán and Jones will be inducted on July 26 in Cooperstown, New York. They’ll be joined by second baseman Jeff Kent, who was voted in last month by the contemporary era committee.
BBWAA members with 10 or more consecutive years of membership were eligible to vote in this election.
Career Highlights
Beltrán played 20 seasons with eight teams:
- Kansas City (1999-2004)
- Houston (2004, 2017)
- Mets (2005-2011)
- Giants (2011)
- Cardinals (2012-2013)
- Yankees (2014-2016)
- Rangers (2016)
Jones spent 17 seasons in the majors:
- Braves (1996-2007)
- Dodgers (2008)
- Rangers (2009)
- White Sox (2010)
- Yankees (2011-2012)
He finished his career with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan from 2013-2014.
Historic Moments
At 19 years, 5 months, Jones became the youngest player to homer in a World Series game during the 1996 opener at Yankee Stadium. He broke Mickey Mantle’s record by 18 months and became only the second player to homer in his first two Series at-bats, matching Gene Tenace’s 1972 feat.
Key Takeaways
- Two elite center fielders will enter Cooperstown together after very different voting journeys
- Beltrán’s election shows writers can separate playing career from post-career controversy
- Jones’ induction proves defense and power can overcome low batting average for Hall voters
- The July 26 ceremony will feature a strong class headlined by two of the game’s premier outfielders
