Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2025: What to Expect

In less than 24 hours, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) will unveil the 2025 Hall of Fame class. This announcement, scheduled for 6 p.m. ET and broadcast live on MLB Network, MLB.com, MLB.TV, and the MLB App, promises to bring high drama as fans eagerly await the final results.

Dick Allen and Dave Parker, elected by the Classic Era Committee, are already part of this year’s Hall of Fame class. The BBWAA’s selections will complete the lineup for the induction ceremony in Cooperstown on July 27. Thanks to Ryan Thibodaux’s Hall of Fame ballot tracker and Jason Sardell’s projection simulations, we have a glimpse of how the vote is trending. Here’s a breakdown of the key storylines heading into the announcement.

Ichiro Suzuki: The Push for History

Ichiro Suzuki could join Mariano Rivera as the second player in history to achieve unanimous election to the Hall of Fame. Rivera, inducted in 2019, remains the only player to receive 100% of the vote. Ichiro, known for his electrifying debut in 2001 and stellar 19-year career, is currently tracking at 188-for-188 ballots with 48% of votes revealed.

Highlights of Ichiro’s career include:

Rookie Season (2001): Led the AL with a .350 batting average, 242 hits, and 56 steals. He also won Rookie of the Year and MVP honors.
All-Time Hits Leader (2004): Set the single-season hits record with 262.
Defensive Excellence: Won 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards.

With 3,089 career hits, Ichiro’s induction seems inevitable. The only question is whether he’ll make history again.

CC Sabathia: First-Ballot Lock

CC Sabathia is poised to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, polling at 93.6% with projections placing him at 92%. Over 19 seasons with Cleveland, the Brewers, and the Yankees, Sabathia built a Hall-worthy resume:

3,000 Strikeouts Club: One of only 19 pitchers to achieve this milestone.
2009 World Series Champion: Earned ALCS MVP honors en route to the Yankees’ title.
Durability: Threw 200+ innings in eight seasons and logged 251 career wins.

Sabathia’s dominance and longevity solidify his place in Cooperstown.

Billy Wagner: The Final Push

In his 10th and final year on the BBWAA ballot, Billy Wagner is projected to surpass the 75% threshold, currently polling at 84.6%. The flamethrowing closer boasts an impressive career:

All-Time Saves Leaderboard: Eighth with 422 saves.
Career Stats: A 2.31 ERA and 33% strikeout rate over 16 seasons.
Top Seasons: Notably in 1999 (1.57 ERA, 39 saves) and 2010 (1.43 ERA, 37 saves).

Wagner’s steady year-over-year gains make his election seem likely.

Carlos Beltrán: Trending Toward Election

Carlos Beltrán’s Hall of Fame case has been clouded by his involvement in the 2017 Astros sign-stealing scandal. Despite this, he’s polling at 80.3% and projected to finish at 73%, suggesting he’s close to election.

Key highlights of Beltrán’s career:

Postseason Legend: Produced a 1.021 OPS with 16 homers in 65 playoff games.
Offensive Consistency: Hit 435 home runs with an .836 OPS over 20 seasons.
Defensive Excellence: Won three Gold Gloves.

Even if not elected this year, Beltrán’s induction seems inevitable.

Andruw Jones: The Clock is Ticking

One of the greatest defensive center fielders in MLB history, Andruw Jones’ candidacy remains on the bubble. Polling at 72.3% and projected at 68%, Jones still has two years of eligibility left after this ballot.

Career highlights include:

Defensive Mastery: Won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves (1998-2007).
Power at the Plate: Hit 434 career home runs, including 51 in 2005.

Jones’ support has steadily grown, but he’ll need a significant push in the coming years.

Chase Utley: Making Big Gains

Chase Utley has made the largest year-over-year jump among returning candidates, currently polling at 53.2%, up from 28.8% last year. Although Sardell projects him to finish at 42%, Utley’s second-ballot surge bodes well for his long-term chances.

Notable achievements:

Postseason Heroics: Hit 10 career playoff home runs, including five in the 2009 World Series.
Awards: Six-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, and 2008 World Series champion.

First-Year Candidates: Who Stays on the Ballot?

Of the 14 first-time candidates, four appear poised to remain on the ballot:

Ichiro Suzuki: Likely unanimous election.
CC Sabathia: First-ballot lock.
Félix Hernández: Projected at 24%.
Dustin Pedroia: Projected at 14%.

Meanwhile, Russell Martin, Ian Kinsler, and Brian McCann are polling just under 5%, while seven others have yet to receive a vote.

Final Thoughts

The Class of 2025 has the potential to make history, with Ichiro aiming for unanimous election and a mix of first-time and returning candidates poised to join him in Cooperstown. The announcement promises high drama as we learn who will stand among baseball’s immortals this summer.