As we proceed to look at the 2025 Corridor of Fame poll, let’s check out the holdover outfielders. We’ll separate out Manny Ramirez for a dialogue alongside Alex Rodriguez, in order that leaves Andruw Jones, Carlos Beltrán, Bobby Abreu and Torii Hunter. Let’s focus on the candidacy and possibilities of induction for that foursome right here at present.
Andruw Jones
The development of Jones’ vote percentages is fascinating. He was principally a non-factor for 2 years after which took off, gaining large floor to the purpose the place it is lifelike to consider he is getting in someday quickly.
- 2018: 7.3%
- 2019: 7.5%
- 2020: 19.4%
- 2021: 33.9%
- 2022: 41.4%
- 2023: 58.1%
- 2024: 61.6%
That leaves as much as three cycles left to get to 75%. The poll is not overly crowded and subsequent season’s first-year class is not shaping up as a really sturdy one. That is to say there’s loads of room for Jones to maintain selecting up votes.
As for Jones’ case, it is a first rate one. There’s an argument to be made that he is the only biggest defensive outfielder in historical past (I’ve explored it at size earlier than) whereas he additionally hit 434 profession house runs and drove house 1,289.
Thanks largely of his all-time nice defensive prowess, Jones sits 14th all-time in WAR amongst middle fielders. The JAWS system balances emphasis between profession accumulations and high-upside prime efficiency. Jones fares higher within the latter class — keep in mind, he fell off badly within the second half of his profession — sitting eleventh. He is forward of Corridor of Famers like Richie Ashburn, Andre Dawson, Billy Hamilton (no, not that one) and Kirby Puckett. He’s nonetheless beneath the typical Corridor of Fame middle fielder, nevertheless, and if somebody wished to play it strict on that entrance, a non-vote for Jones is justified.
As referenced above, the Jones decline was fairly steep. By way of his age-29 season, Jones was hitting .267/.345/.505 (116 OPS+) with a median of 5.3 WAR per season. After that, he hit .214/.314/.420 (92 OPS+) with a median of 0.8 WAR per season. Maybe the current reminiscence of his abrupt falling aside is what damage him within the early years on the poll and the additional we get away from it, the extra folks look again at his prime.
Regardless of the motive, Jones is trending towards induction after barely staying on the poll his first two tries.
Carlos Beltrán
Beltrán’s on-field case appears a reasonably straightforward “sure” to me.
In components of 20 seasons, he amassed 2,725 hits, 565 doubles, 435 house runs, 1,587 RBI, 1,582 runs and 312 stolen bases with a slash line of .279/.350/.486 (119 OPS+). He was a Rookie of the 12 months, nine-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glover, two-time Silver Slugger and a Roberto Clemente Award winner. He obtained MVP votes seven occasions, topping out at fourth place, and received a World Collection ring. In 65 profession playoff video games, Beltrán hit .307/.412/.609 with 15 doubles, a triple, 16 homers, 42 RBI, 45 runs and 11 steals in 11 tries. He is legitimately among the best playoff performers ever.
Amongst middle fielders, he ranks eighth in profession WAR, trailing Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Mickey Mantle, Mike Trout, Ken Griffey Jr. and Joe DiMaggio. That is no nice crime. He is forward of the likes of Duke Snider, Asburn, Dawson, Puckett, and many others.
Once more, it feels straightforward.
So why did he solely get 46.5% of the vote in his first 12 months and 57.1% final 12 months?
Nicely, it looks like his involvement with the 2017 Astros sign-stealing scandal is the difficulty at hand.
I’ve finished a way more thorough breakdown of Beltrán’s Corridor of Fame case earlier than and it features a part on the scandal, together with Beltrán principally being known as “The Godfather” of Houston’s sign-stealing operation. The poll has directions to contemplate “integrity, sportsmanship” and “character” as a participant.
The most effective guess right here is Beltrán would already be within the Corridor of Fame if not for the connection right here. He nonetheless would possibly make it, however there’s additionally the possibility he plateaus earlier than attending to the 75% threshold. It will be attention-grabbing to see how a lot he beneficial properties this 12 months. Once more, he began at 46.5% and rose 10.6 proportion factors in his second strive. If he provides 10 factors once more this 12 months, he’ll be simply inside placing vary for subsequent. If he stagnates, it is an issue for his hopes of ever getting in.
Bobby Abreu
Abreu has turn into a little bit of a darling for a section of baseball fandom that embraces sure metrics, however his stagnation final season is not signal that there is sufficient momentum. This is the way it has gone in his first 5 ballots.
- 2020: 5.5%
- 2021: 8.7%
- 2022: 8.6%
- 2023: 15.4%
- 2024: 14.8%
He did sit in an analogous spot in years two and three earlier than a leap, so possibly there’s one other leap in there this time round? It nonetheless cannot be very encouraging for the Abreu followers on the market. I would say for there to be any hope in any respect he is obtained to recover from 20% and possibly even 25% or 30%.
In components of 18 seasons, Abreu hit .291/.395/.475 (128 OPS+) with 2,470 hits, 574 doubles, 288 house runs, 1,363 RBI, 1,453 runs and 400 stolen bases. He sits twenty second amongst proper fielders in JAWS, simply forward of Vladimir Guerrero whereas additionally main Enos Slaughter, Elmer Flick, Willie Keeler and Chuck Klein, amongst others.
I’ve finished a deeper dive on the underappreciated Abreu earlier than, so test that out.
Torii Hunter
The five-time All-Star received 9 Gold Gloves and 5 Silver Sluggers. I remembered pondering within the 2021 vote that he’d be a one-and-done, however he is now on his fifth poll. His returns up to now have been 9.5%, 5.3, 6.9 and seven.3. He is extremely unlikely to ever get within the Corridor, however he is nonetheless right here and that is a feather in his cap.
In components of 19 seasons, Hunter hit .277/.331/.461 (110 OPS+) with 2,452 hits, 498 doubles, 353 house runs, 1,391 RBI, 1,296 runs and 195 stolen bases. Within the JAWS system, he is thirty fifth all-time amongst middle fielders, forward of some Corridor of Famers, however in the identical ballpark as current gamers like Brett Butler, Devon White, Curtis Granderson and Ellis Burks.
He will not be thought-about on my poll, however he is earned sufficient assist to hold round for a number of years on the poll.
