Who are the possible inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2023?
Hall of Fame Day is upon us. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) will reveal the 2023 inductees into Cooperstown Tuesday at 6 p.m. There are 28 former players on the ballot, 14 newcomers and 14 holdovers.
In order to enter Cooperstown, former players need to have 75 percent of the vote from the BBWAA members. If a player receives less than five percent, they will not be on the ballot next year. Those members with over ten years of consecutive membership are eligible to participate and had to cast their vote before Dec. 31, 2022.
This year’s class of former players consists of some household names, some linked to PEDs and suspended for using them and others who are trying to build support for future votes.
The newcomers in the Baseball Hall of Fame class of 2023
- Carlos Beltran
- R.A. Dickey
- Huston Street
- Francisco Rodríguez
- Bronson Arroyo
- Matt Cain
- Jacoby Ellsbury
- Jayson Werth
- Mike Napoli
- J.J. Hardy
- Jhonny Peralta
- Andre Ethier
- Jered Weaver
- John Lackey
The holdovers in the Baseball Hall of Fame class of 2023
- Scott Rolen
- Todd Helton
- Billy Wagner
- Andruw Jones
- Gary Sheffield
- Alex Rodriguez
- Jeff Kent
- Manny Ramirez
- Omar Vizquel
- Andy Pettitte
- Jimmy Rollins
- Bobby Abreu
- Mark Buehrle
- Torii Hunter
Who has the best shot of being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this summer?
Todd Helton tops the list. The Colorado Rockie legend has a strong chance of reaching the 75 percent of votes needed to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in July. According to vote trackers Scott Rolen also has a good chance. The third baseman who played most of his career in Philadelphia, St. Louis and Cincinnati is near the three-quarter mark with BBWAA members.
Two other names that are being thrown around are Andruw Jones and Gary Sheffield. Both are well-known position players from the 90s and 2000s who will more than likely be left out this year, but are strong candidates for the class of 2024.
Left-handed pitcher Billy Wagner also has a good chance and it wouldn’t be a surprise for anyone if the pitcher who made a name with the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets gets in.
As far as the newcomers, Carlos Beltran is the only one who has a chance of entering the Hall of Fame in 2023. The center fielder from Puerto Rico has the stats that will impress the members, but getting into Cooperstown in his first year will be a difficult feat.
A very real possibility this year could leave Fred McGriff as the only inductee in Cooperstown this summer. The Gold-Glove first baseman was elected by the Contemporary Eras Committee in December and might be alone in Ohio in July if the other candidates don’t get 75 percent of the votes.