Cooperstown is set to welcome two outstanding outfielders. On Tuesday, it was confirmed that Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones will join the Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026.
Beltran, a nine-time All-Star and one of the premier hitters of his time, finished his 20-year career with 2,725 hits, 435 home runs, and 312 stolen bases. He secured his sole World Series championship during his second tenure with the Houston Astros in 2017. Over his career, Beltran also played for the Kansas City Royals, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, and Texas Rangers.
In his fourth year on the ballot, Beltran earned 358 out of 425 votes from the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), achieving 84.2%—comfortably surpassing the 75% needed for induction. His support rose from 46.5% in 2023 to 57.1% in 2024, and then to 70.3% in 2025, narrowly missing election previously as Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner were inducted.
Jones, a five-time All-Star with a 17-year career, was an essential member of the Atlanta Braves team that won the National League East title 11 times in a row from 1995 to 2006, contributing to two National League championships. He earned 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards (1998-2007) and was renowned as one of the game’s finest outfielders. Jones posted a .254 batting average with 434 home runs and 152 stolen bases, also playing for the Los Angeles , Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees.
Jones secured 333 votes in nine of his ten years of eligibility, earning 78.4% of the vote this year. His support started low at 7.3% in 2018, climbing with time—even reaching 66.2% last year—before just missing induction by 35 votes.
Both players, alongside second baseman Jeff Kent—who was selected by the Modern Era Committee last month—will be officially inducted at Cooperstown, New York, on July 26.
BBWAA members with at least ten years of consecutive membership were eligible to vote this year.
Other notable vote-getters who received over half the votes included Chase Utley at 59.1%, a significant jump from 39.8% last year. Andy Pettitte posted 48.5%, up from 27.9%, and Felix Hernandez received 46.1%, an increase from 20.6%. Newcomer Cole Hamels led first-timers with 23.8%. Players receiving under 5% for the first time will no longer appear on future ballots.
Candidates linked to steroid use remained excluded from Hall of Fame induction. Alex Rodriguez rose to 40% in his fifth year, up from 7.1%, and Manny Ramirez finished with 38.8% in his tenth and final year on the ballot. David Wright’s support increased from 8.1% to 14.8%.
There were 11 blank ballots cast.
Beltran, the 1999 American League Rookie of the Year, was a three-time Gold Glove winner and delivered a .307 batting average with 16 home runs and 42 RBIs across 65 postseason games. Despite Jones’ modest .254 average—second-lowest among Hall of Famers—his defensive prowess earned him 10 Gold Gloves, joining Braves legends such as Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Chipper Jones, and manager Bobby Cox in Cooperstown.
At just 19 years and 5 months old, Jones became the youngest player to homer in a World Series game during the 1996 Series opener at Yankee Stadium, breaking Mickey Mantle’s record by 18 months. In that game, Jones hit home runs in his first two at-bats, a rare feat last seen in 1972.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Fan Take: This induction not only honors two exceptional players whose careers defined an era but also celebrates the blend of offensive skill and elite defense in baseball’s history. For fans, Beltran and Jones’ entrance into Cooperstown reaffirms the Hall’s commitment to recognizing diverse talents, enhancing how we appreciate the game’s evolving legacy.
