Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday, marking the first time two players who spent the majority of their careers in center field were chosen in the same election. Beltran was named on 84.2% of Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballots in his fourth year of eligibility, while Jones earned 78.4% in his ninth and final year on the BBWAA ballot. They will be inducted as part of the Class of 2026 alongside Jeff Kent, who was selected in December by the contemporary era committee.
Beltran, a nine-time All-Star, finished a 20-year career with 2,725 hits, 435 home runs and 312 stolen bases, joining a short list of players to reach 2,700 hits, 400 homers, 1,500 runs and 300 steals. His candidacy progressed despite lingering scrutiny from Houston’s 2017 sign-stealing scandal. Beltran, a Puerto Rico native who now runs a baseball academy on the island, becomes the fifth Hall of Famer born there.
Jones will be the first player born in Curacao to be inducted. A defensive standout who won 10 Gold Gloves, he hit 434 homers in 17 major league seasons and saw his support climb steadily from 7.3% in his first year on the ballot. The induction ceremony is scheduled for July 26 in Cooperstown, New York.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].