Introduction

The anticipation builds as the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot is set to be released by the Baseball Writers' Association of America this Monday. Headlining this year's newcomers are veteran pitchers Cole Hamels and Ryan Braun, who are set to join 15 holdover candidates from last year's ballot seeking a second chance at enshrinement.

Main Body

Among the returning candidates, Carlos Beltrán stands out with a robust 70.3 percent of the votes last year, closely followed by Andruw Jones at 66.2 percent. Both players came remarkably close to the coveted 75 percent threshold required for induction. Chase Utley, who garnered 39.8 percent of the vote, is also showing promising signs as he progresses in his quest for enshrinement.

This year, newcomers Cole Hamels and Ryan Braun appear to be the only candidates poised for potential long-term consideration, which may ultimately benefit a few of the holdovers seeking to enhance their chances at induction. Notably, Manny Ramirez finds himself in his final year of eligibility, although he received just 34.3 percent of the support in 2025.

The results from the voting for the 2026 Hall of Fame class will be disclosed on January 20, but for now, excitement surrounds the ranking of all 33 players expected to vie for a spot in the prestigious Hall of Fame. These rankings consider career statistics, accolades, reputation, and the likelihood of earning the votes necessary for their induction.