Jones, Beltran Inducted to Hall of Fame by BBWAA

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

January 20, 2026

Outfielders Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones have been voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA), results revealed Tuesday on MLB Network. They were the only two guys who received 75% or more of the votes from 425 ballots submitted. They will be joining second baseman Jeff Kent, who is the sole induction by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee.

Beltran & Jones

A second-round pick in the 1995 Amateur Draft, Beltran made his debut with the Kansas City Royals in 1998. He forged his legacy as a member of the New York Mets. He secured five All-Star nods and all three of his Gold Glove awards playing inside Shea Stadium.

An all-around offensive killer, he’s tied for fourth-most seasons with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases with seven. Only Bobby Bonds and Barry Bonds (10), as well as Bobby Abreu (9) have had more during their careers.

Beltran also ranks 10th among center fielders in home runs, as well as fourth all-time among switch hitters. Only hall of famers Mickey Mantle, Eddie Murray and Chipper Jones tallied more during their careers.

Jones was only the third player from the Country of Curacao in major league history at the time. He became a beacon of consistency up until his last season with the Atlanta Braves at the age of 30. He played in no less than 153 games in each of his 11 full seasons in Atlanta, despite hitting a wall after that.

He’d become one of seven center fielders to hit over 50 home runs in a season, clobbering 51 in 2005. That season, he finished runner-up to Albert Pujols in NL MVP voting, and getting the eighth of his 10 career gold gloves.

Jones ranks sixth in home runs while playing center field with 348, and is tied for second in gold gloves among center fielders with Ken Griffey Jr. at 10 apiece. Only Willie Mays (11) has more. He now becomes the sole Curacao native to enter the Hall.

Near Misses

Second baseman Chase Utley had the highest percentage of votes among non-inductees at 59.1%. A substantial jump from 39.8% in 2025. This bodes well for the longtime-Philadelphia Phillies standout. Everyone who has received 50% or more of the vote by their third year has made it into the hall.

End of the Road

Manny Ramirez officially dropped off the ballot after receiving 38.8% of the votes in his 10^th and final year of eligibility. It also seems highly unlikely for Omar Vizquel, who only notched 18.4% of the vote in his ninth year.

First Year Candidates

Of 12 first-year candidates, only Cole Hamels (23.8%) received the 5% of the vote needed to stay on the ballot. Daniel Murphy, Howie Kendrick and Gio Gonzalez all didn’t receive a single vote, while Ryan Braun (3.5%) was the closest to remaining on the ballot other than Hamels.

Looking Ahead

The requirements needed to be inducted the Hall of Fame is to receive 75% or more of the votes from the BBWAA. Jones, Beltran and Kent will be formally inducted on Sunday, July 26, 2026 in Cooperstown, New York as apart of Hall of Fame Weekend.