The Baseball Hall of Fame has a limited number of candidates, but if it comes down to a vote, there are few players that could make the Hall of Fame on the first try. Some of the best players to make the Hall of Fame have already been elected, but others will need a bit of time to earn their spot. Here are some of the candidates we’ll vote for in 2023.
It’s hard to believe that Ichiro Suzuki, who won the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2001, has not yet made the Hall of Fame. He’s been named an All-Star in 10 out of his 12 seasons in the league, has racked up over 3,000 hits, and won 10 Gold Glove Awards. His career is not over yet, though.
Another candidate who should be unanimous selection is Adrian Beltre. With 477 career home runs, a 93.5 WAR, and no scandals attached to his name, Beltre should be an automatic Hall of Fame pick. If he’s not, the next three players on this list should be.
Andruw Jones was a four-time All-Star and won the World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006. He’s been a vocal advocate for induction, and it appears that the BBWAA has finally realized that he deserves to be in. In fact, he’s jumped from 41 percent in his sixth year on the ballot to 58 percent in his seventh.
While Manny Ramirez and Mike Napoli failed to reach five percent, the vote went to a player who is expected to be a big-time hitter in the future. Michael Conforto is a middle of the order hitter with over 2,500 hits. Considering his age, he could be a star in the future, and he’s likely to be voted in on his first try.
The BBWAA’s newfound leniency towards younger players is making it easier for them to get in. Even players who have been on the ballot for a decade have to receive 75 percent of the vote in order to be eligible. Players who fail to hit this mark can drop off the ballot after two years, or they can remain on the ballot for ten years.
There are still a couple of candidates who need to make some major improvements. Omar Vizquel continues to decline, while Jayson Werth, Jayson Palmer, and Jose Abreu have been stuck on the ballot for three years now. Both players have a smaller percentage than Bobby Abreu and Gary Sheffield, but are still on the ballot.
The lack of an entrant this year has put the focus on the voters. A large voting pool makes for a more legitimate final vote. But it’s also clear that the steroid era has muddied the waters when it comes to Hall of Fame induction. As the BBWAA works its way through the process, a player will need to gain 5% of the vote every year to maintain his or her place on the ballot.
