UPDATE: The highly anticipated Hall of Fame voting results from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America will be revealed tonight at 6 p.m. ET. As baseball fans eagerly await the announcement, two center fielders, Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones, are in the spotlight, hoping to join Jeff Kent, who was elected last December.
This year’s ballot has raised eyebrows. Critics are labeling it as possibly the weakest since the early 2000s. Last year featured notable newcomers like Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia. In contrast, the 2026 ballot presents just 27 players with a combined total of 1,282 WAR, significantly lower than the 1,672 WAR from the top candidates in 2013.
Among the 2026 candidates, only Cole Hamels boasts a career WAR exceeding 50. Historical context shows that 11 players on this year’s ballot exceed that mark, yet the competition remains fierce.
Fans are watching closely as both Beltran and Jones have shown promising polling numbers. Beltran, in his third year on the ballot, garnered 70.3% of the vote last year and is currently polling at an impressive 89.2% of publicly revealed ballots. Similarly, Jones is polling at 83.5%, having received 66.2% last year.
However, history teaches caution. Despite healthy pre-announcement polling, both players could face a dip in final results. Last year, Beltran dropped by 10 percentage points, while Jones saw a decline of 6 percentage points.
The stakes are high tonight. A player requires 75% of the votes to be elected and only needs 5% to remain on the ballot. With a maximum of 10 players allowed per ballot and a decade-long eligibility, the pressure is palpable.
The Hall of Fame has a notable lack of center fielders, a position that is tied with designated hitters as the least represented. Currently, only four center fielders are enshrined: Willie Mays, Andre Dawson, Kirby Puckett, and Ken Griffey Jr.. This raises the question: will the Hall of Fame’s approach shift to better recognize this pivotal position?
Additionally, Chase Utley is also in the mix, polling at 67.9%, up from 39.8% in 2025. His performance mirrors that of Todd Helton, who was elected in 2024 after a similar trajectory. The growing recognition of peak performance over longevity could redefine standards for future candidates.
Newcomer Cole Hamels, a standout from the 2008 World Series, enters the ballot with 163 career wins and 57.9 WAR. While he lacks a Cy Young Award, his adjusted ERA of 123 positions him favorably against other candidates.
As the clock ticks down to the announcement, fans are left to ponder the futures of other hopefuls like Andy Pettitte and Mark Buehrle, who have compelling cases but face challenges in gaining traction.
With just hours to go, the baseball community is abuzz with speculation. Will Beltran and Jones break through? Can Utley and Hamels make a strong impression?
Stay tuned for the live results at 6 p.m. ET—the countdown is on!
