Everything you need to know about 2025 HOF vote
With all the ballots for this year¡¯s Hall of Fame vote having been turned in, the only thing left to do now is wait for the results to be unveiled.
But while we wait for that Jan. 21 announcement, here is everything you need to know about the upcoming reveal.
How can I watch?
Exclusive coverage of the 2025 BBWAA Hall of Fame announcement will begin at 4 p.m. ET on Jan. 21 on MLB Network, leading up to the results being revealed at 6 p.m. Along with MLB Network carrying the announcement, MLB.com, MLB.TV and the MLB App will join the coverage at 6 p.m.
Who is on the ballot?
There are 28 candidates on this year¡¯s BBWAA ballot, half of whom are appearing for the first time.
The returnees (listed in order of 2024 election percentage) are:
Billy Wagner (73.8%), Andruw Jones (61.6%), Carlos Beltr¨¢n (57.1%), Alex Rodriguez (34.8%), Manny Ramirez (32.5%), Chase Utley (28.8%), Omar Vizquel (17.7%), Bobby Abreu (14.8%), Jimmy Rollins (14.8%), Andy Pettitte (13.5%), Mark Buehrle (8.3%), Francisco Rodriguez (7.8%), Torii Hunter (7.3%) and David Wright (6.2%).
The first-timers are: Carlos Gonz¨¢lez, Curtis Granderson, F¨¦lix Hern¨¢ndez, Adam Jones, Ian Kinsler, Russell Martin, Brian McCann, Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, Fernando Rodney, CC Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki, Troy Tulowitzki and Ben Zobrist.
Who has the best chance at election?
Well, the obvious answer here is Suzuki. The only question about the Mariners icon seems to be whether he will join Mariano Rivera as the only players to be elected unanimously.
As far as who is most likely to join Suzuki this summer in Cooperstown, Wagner seems to have the best chance among the returning candidates. He came up just short at 73.8% last year -- and this is his 10th and final year on the ballot. Beltr¨¢n and Jones are also hoping to continue their climbs toward the 75-percent threshold, though they need to make much bigger jumps than Wagner.
Suzuki could also be joined by another first-timer in Sabathia, as the six-time All-Star and 2007 AL Cy Young winner seems to have the second-best chance among players appearing on the ballot for the first time.
Who is the most interesting first-timer?
Hern¨¢ndez¡¯s candidacy is likely the most intriguing among first-time players. He was a six-time All-Star and won the 2010 AL Cy Young Award. He also led the league in ERA twice (2.27 in 2010, and 2.14 in ¡¯14) and finished as the AL Cy Young runner-up twice.
¡°King Felix¡± also threw the 23rd perfect game in MLB history against the Rays on Aug. 15, 2012.
Hern¨¢ndez certainly has the accolades and the milestones, but the question is whether voters will believe he has the longevity to earn a spot in Cooperstown. He may not receive the 75-percent threshold necessary for induction this year, but it¡¯ll be worth monitoring his progress in years to come.
Is anyone on his last ballot?
It¡¯s the last chance on the BBWAA ballot for Wagner. With 73.8% of the vote last time around, he just missed election to Cooperstown -- but he¡¯s been inching closer each year.
Wagner started his bid with just 10.5% of the vote in his debut in 2016, but he¡¯s made sizable jumps in each of his past five years on the ballot. He jumped 15% to 31.7% in 2020, then improved to 46.4% in ¡¯21, 51% in ¡¯22, 68.1% in ¡¯23 and 73.8% in ¡¯24.
Other key names to watch
Beltr¨¢n, Jones and Utley are three other candidates to keep an eye on.
Beltr¨¢n received 46.5% of the vote in his first year on the ballot in 2023, then jumped to 57.1% in ¡¯24. He¡¯ll be looking to continue that trajectory in his third year on the ballot as he hopes to move closer to the necessary 75%.
Jones, meanwhile, has seen a steady increase in recent years. After starting out with 7.3% in 2018 and 7.5% in ¡¯19, he received 19.4% in ¡¯20, 33.9% in ¡¯21, 41.4% in ¡¯22, 58.1% in ¡¯23 and 61.6% in ¡¯24.
And while Jones hopes to continue that climb toward 75%, Utley is looking to improve upon receiving 28.8% of the vote in his ballot debut last year. Though he still has a long way to go, it will be interesting to see how big of a jump Utley will make after a solid opening year.
When does the 2024 induction ceremony take place?
It will be held on Sunday, July 27, at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, N.Y.