Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones elected to Baseball Hall of Fame with high votes; legendary outfielders fulfill their dream in Cooperstown

Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones completed their journey from center field to the Hall of Fame. Today, both were officially voted in by the BBWAA as members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Beltrán succeeded in his fourth year of eligibility, and Jones realized his dream in his ninth year. They will attend the induction ceremony on July 26 in Cooperstown, New York, alongside Jeff Kent, who was selected by the Modern Baseball Era Committee.

According to BBWAA rules, candidates must receive at least 75% of the vote to be inducted. Beltrán earned 84.2% of the vote, and Jones received 78.4%. Although only these two met the threshold, other candidates showed significant gains: second baseman Chase Utley, in his third year on the ballot, surpassed 50% with 59.1%, an increase of 19.3% from last year; starting pitchers Andy Pettitte (eighth year) and Félix Hernández (second year) garnered 48.5% and 46.1%, respectively, both up by over 20% compared to last year.

Slugger Manny Ramírez received 38.8% support in his tenth and final year of eligibility; starting pitcher Cole Hamels, in his first year on the ballot, earned 23.8%, making him the only new candidate this year to surpass the 5% minimum to remain on the ballot.

A total of 425 ballots were cast in this vote, requiring candidates to get at least 319 votes for induction. There were 11 blank ballots, the highest number since 2011, with an average of 5.77 names selected per ballot.

Here are the career highlights of the two newly inducted Hall of Famers:

Carlos Beltrán

His vote percentage rose rapidly over the years: 46.5% in his first year on the ballot in 2023, 57.1% in 2024, and 70.3% last year. Despite controversy over his involvement in the 2017 Astros sign-stealing scandal (his final playing season), Beltrán's outstanding achievements across 20 years with seven teams — Royals, Astros, Mets, Giants, Cardinals, Yankees, and Rangers — ultimately earned this Puerto Rican star the sport’s highest honor.

Beltrán burst onto the scene as the American League Rookie of the Year in 1999, was a nine-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner, and two-time Silver Slugger recipient. He won the World Series with the Astros in 2017 and helped the Cardinals capture the National League title in 2013. A switch-hitter combining power and speed, he is one of only five players in AL/NL history to record at least 500 doubles (565), 400 home runs (435), and 300 stolen bases (312), alongside Willie Mays, Andre Dawson, Barry Bonds, and Alex Rodriguez.

His career totals include 1,582 runs scored and 1,587 RBIs, making him one of only 38 players in history with both categories exceeding 1,500. His stolen base success rate of 86.4% is the highest among players with at least 200 attempts since the 1920 live-ball era. Beltrán’s career WAR (bWAR) stands at 70.0, ranking eighth among center fielders, with only Mike Trout among the top seven not yet in the Hall of Fame.

Beltrán’s postseason record is equally legendary: in 256 playoff plate appearances, he posted a slash line of .307/.412/.609. His eight home runs in the 2004 playoffs tied a single-season record. He and Derek Jeter are the only players in history with at least 10 home runs, 10 stolen bases, and a batting average over .300 in postseason play.

Andruw Jones

Known as a defensive wizard who could catch any ball hit to the outfield, Jones gradually gained recognition from voters in recent years. His vote percentage steadily climbed from 7.3% in his first year to finally achieving induction in his ninth year. At 47 years old, he became the first player from Curaçao to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Jones’s ten Gold Glove awards were the cornerstone of his induction, ranking tied for third most among outfielders, behind only Roberto Clemente and Willie Mays (each with 12). His defensive WAR (dWAR) of 24.4 surpasses that of any other outfielder by 5.6, making him a key figure in the Braves’ division dominance during the 1990s and 2000s.

Offensively, Jones’s career batting average of .254 is the lowest among Hall of Fame outfielders, but his 17-year career (with the Braves, Yankees, White Sox, Rangers, and Dodgers) yielded 434 home runs, showcasing his power. Only Mays, Ken Griffey Jr., and Mike Schmidt were first-ballot inductees with at least 400 home runs and 10 Gold Gloves; Jones, Mays, and Bonds are the only outfielders with at least seven Gold Gloves and 30+ home runs in a single season.

Although his offensive and defensive skills declined with age after leaving the Braves, Jones’s peak period from 1998 to 2006 produced a bWAR of 54.5, ranking third among all players in that span, behind only Rodriguez and Bonds. This exceptional peak performance ultimately opened the door to Cooperstown for him.