With Scott Rolen now elected to the Hall of Fame Class of 2023, here are some notable former players that will become eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame between 2024 and 2027...
2024
Chase Utley and David Wright will become eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2024.
(Al Bello/Getty Images)
Adrián Beltré - His greatness was on display for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers over an illustrious 21-year career. Beltré was ranked at the No. 3 third baseman of all time on our countdown, and is certain to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Joe Mauer - While he didn't catch as long as someone like Yadier Molina, Mauer at his peak was one of the most complete catchers that baseball has ever seen. The left-handed hitting catcher won three batting titles, including when he hit .365 and won the American League MVP in 2009. Mauer -- who also was a three-time Gold Glove Award winner -- was No. 7 on our countdown of the greatest catchers in MLB history.
Chase Utley - His 1,885 career hits will be disqualifying for some voters, but Utley was one of the most dominant second basemen of all-time at the height of his powers. In terms of WAR 7 -- a player's top seven single-season bWAR totals combined -- Utley is ninth among all second basemen in baseball history with a 49.3 fWAR. Utley checked in at No. 9 when we ranked the best second basemen ever.
Bartolo Colón - He won't be a Hall of Famer, but Colón did have tremendous longevity, pitching for 11 different franchises during his 21-year career. "Big Sexy" won the 2005 American League Cy Young Award while pitching for the team then referred to as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Matt Holliday - One of the best players in recent history for both the Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals, Holliday made seven All-Star teams, won four Silver Slugger Awards and even captured the 2007 National League batting title. For his career, the slugging outfielder slashed .299/.379/.510 with an .889 OPS over 15 seasons.
David Wright - If not for injuries, Wright likely would have gone down as one of the greatest third basemen in baseball history. Even as is, Wright made seven All-Star teams and won multiple Gold Glove Awards. "Captain America" had a 39.5 WAR 7, the 21st best mark among all third basemen in baseball history.
José Bautista - Not really hitting his stride until his age-29 season will prevent "Joey Bats" from being a Hall of Famer, but he was an elite power hitter for a lengthy stretch of time. Between 2010 and 2017, Bautista hit 272 home runs, the most in baseball during that period.
Yovani Gallardo -
Adrián González - An excellent all-around hitter, González made five All-Star teams and finished his career with a .287/.358/.485 slash line. González -- whose best seasons came primarily with the San Diego Padres -- also was a four-time Gold Glove Award winner.
Victor Martinez - One of the most underrated players of his time, Martinez made five All-Star teams during a 16-year career that saw him play with Cleveland, the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers. In 2014 -- his age-35 season -- Martinez led baseball in both on-base percentage (.409) and OPS (.974), finishing runner up to Mike Trout in American League MVP voting.
Jim Johnson - With 51 saves and a 2.49 ERA, Johnson finished seventh in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2012. Between 2012 and 2013, Johnson recorded 101 saves for the Baltimore Orioles, ultimately finishing his career with 178 saves.
José Reyes - In his first stint with the New York Mets, Reyes was a tremendous table setter, leading baseball in triples and stolen bases on three occasions. The switch-hitting infielder finished his career with 2,138 hits.
Brandon Phillips - A joy to watch hit and play defense, Phillips made three All-Star teams and won four Gold Glove Awards during 11 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. Phillips' best offensive season came in 2007, when he hit 30 home runs and drove in 94 runs.
Brad Ziegler - In 11 big league seasons, Ziegler twice led baseball in games pitched, doing so in 2013 and 2018. The righty finished his career with a 2.75 ERA in 739 games.
James Shields - While the Chicago White Sox certainly wish they didn't trade Fernando Tatis Jr. for Shields, the righty was a very good pitcher at his peak. Between 2007 and 2015, Shields threw 200 or more innings in each season, helping the Tampa Bay Rays to reach the World Series for the first time in 2008.
2025
Ichiro Suzuki will headline the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot.
(ZORAN BOZICEVIC/AFP via Getty Images)
CC Sabathia - A six-time All-Star, Sabathia went 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA in 19 seasons in the majors. Sabathia won the 2007 American League Cy Young Award while pitching for Cleveland and the 2009 World Series with the New York Yankees. His absolute peak may have come when he threw seven complete games in 17 starts for the Milwaukee Brewers after being acquired in advance of the 2008 trade deadline.
Ichiro Suzuki - Despite not coming to America until his age-27 season, Ichiro racked up 3,089 hits across parts of 19 seasons in Major League Baseball. Suzuki won both the American League Rookie of the Year and MVP Award in his first season in Seattle, and ultimately made 10 All-Star teams and won 10 Gold Glove Awards. He may very well get 100% of the vote in his first appearance on the ballot.
Dustin Pedroia - After winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2007, Pedroia won the AL MVP in 2008. Knee injuries late in his career likely will prevent Pedroia from being a Hall of Famer, but he did win two World Series titles and four Gold Glove Awards.
Hanley Ramírez - There may be some level of disappointment in how the totality of his career turned out, but Ramírez ranks fourth in fWAR between 2006 and 2010, trailing only Albert Pujols, Chase Utley and Joe Mauer. The version of Ramírez that played for the Florida Marlins was a special talent.
Troy Tulowitzki - In terms of WAR 7, Tulowitzki ranks 20th in MLB history among shortstops. Injuries derailed what would have been a slam-dunk case for the Hall of Fame.
Fernando Rodney - One of the most consistent relievers of his era, Rodney accumulated 327 career saves across 17 seasons in the majors. He wore a lot of different hats, but they were always flipped to the side during a career that saw him make the All-Star team as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres.
Curtis Granderson - In 16 seasons, Granderson homered 344 times, starring for the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees and New York Mets. Granderson made three All-Star Game appearances and racked up 1,800 hits.
Ian Kinsler - He probably won't be a Hall of Famer, but Kinsler was a hell of a second baseman in his day. While playing primarily with the Texas Rangers and the Tigers, Kinsler hit 257 career home runs and posted a 47.4 fWAR. In 14 seasons, Kinsler also won two Gold Glove Awards.
Brian McCann - One of the best offensive catchers in recent years, McCann won six Silver Slugger Awards and made seven All-Star teams. With 282 career home runs, there will probably be some who believe that McCann has a real case, but they'll have to weigh him being part of the 2017 Houston Astros team, even if he's much more associated with the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees.
Carlos González - "CarGo" was a tremendously well rounded player at his peak with the Colorado Rockies, winning the 2010 batting title in the National League and making three All-Star teams.
Adam Jones - While he debuted with the Mariners, Jones was acquired by the Orioles in the Erik Bedard trade ahead of the 2008 season and ultimately made five All-Star teams and won four Gold Glove Awards in 11 seasons in Baltimore.
David Freese - He won't draw serious consideration for the Hall of Fame, but there's already plenty of evidence of Freese's career at Cooperstown as well. Freese won the 2011 NLCS and World Series MVP Awards for the St. Louis Cardinals, with his walk-off home run in Game 6 of the World Series going down as one of the more iconic moments in the history of the Fall Classic.
Melky Cabrera - Over 15 seasons, Cabrera played for eight different teams, including spending parts of five seasons with the New York Yankees. Cabrera did make an All-Star team as a member of the San Francisco Giants in 2012, but doesn't have a real case for the Hall of Fame.
Kendrys Morales - While perhaps most famous for breaking his leg after celebrating a walk-off home run for the Los Angeles Angels in 2010, he did hit 213 home runs in 13 seasons. There's quite a bit to be proud of there.
Martin Prado - One of the best super utility players of his era, Prado made an All-Star team as a member of the Atlanta Braves in 2010 and finished his 14-year career with exactly 100 home runs.
Mark Reynolds - Though he did strike out over 1,900 times in his 13-season career, Reynolds also had four seasons where he hit 30 or more home runs, including hitting 44 for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009. Reynolds finished his career with 298 home runs.
Ben Zobrist - There's a reason that just about every team Zobrist played for was a World Series contender -- he was a special player. While he won't be a Hall of Famer, Zobrist was the best super-utility star of his era. He posted a staggering 8.7 fWAR as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2009, and ultimately won World Series titles as a member of the Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs.
2026
Hunter Pence will become eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2026.
(Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Alex Gordon - The No. 2 overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft, Gordon spent all 14 seasons of his career with the Kansas City Royals. Gordon will go down as one of the best defensive left fielders of all time, having won eight Gold Glove Awards and two Platinum Glove Awards.
Edwin Encarnación -
Hunter Pence - The style in which he played wasn't exactly by the book, but it sure worked for the four-time All-Star. Pence had stints with the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers, winning World Series titles with the Giants in 2012 and 2014.
Ryan Braun -
Daniel Murphy - Something of a late bloomer, Murphy hit seven home runs in the New York Mets run to the World Series in 2015, before hitting .334 in his two full seasons with the Washington Nationals.
Neil Walker - The switch-hitting infielder finished fifth in National League Rookie of the Year Award voting in 2010, and won a Silver Slugger in 2014 while playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In a 12-year career, Walker also played for the Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Miami Marlins and Phillies.
Nick Markakis - One of the better pure contact hitters of his era, Markakis racked up 2,388 hits in 15 seasons split between the Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves. He also won three Gold Glove Awards.
Gio González - A two-time All-Star, González pitched for 13 seasons, throwing 175 innings or more on eight occasions. González posted a 3.70 ERA and 3.68 FIP over 1,933 innings.
Rick Porcello - While he finished his career with a 4.40 ERA and 4.06 FIP, Porcello did finish third in American League Rookie of the Year voting as a member of the 2009 Detroit Tigers. Seven years later, he led the American League with 22 wins as a Red Sox, and won the AL Cy Young Award.
Howie Kendrick - Over the course of a 15-season career spent primarily with the Los Angeles Angels, Kendrick accumulated 1,747 hits. He had a tremendous 2019 postseason, capturing the NLCS MVP and hitting a go-ahead home run in Game 7 of the World Series.
Matt Kemp - A five-tool outfielder at his peak, Kemp finished second in NL MVP voting in 2011, his best of parts of 10 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. A three-time All-Star, Kemp finished his 15-year career with 287 home runs.
2027
Jon Lester was a tremendous postseason pitcher.
(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Jon Lester - Unless you're a fan of the Oakland A's, you probably remember Lester as one of the best postseason pitchers of his era. Lester won three World Series titles, two with the Boston Red Sox and one with the Chicago Cubs. He finished his career with 200 regular season wins and a 3.66 ERA.
Buster Posey - While his career only lasted 12 seasons, Posey is going to have a heck of a case for the Hall of Fame. He was the 2010 National League Rookie of the Year, 2012 NL MVP and a seven-time All-Star. Posey helped the San Francisco Giants to win three World Series titles, and could eventually end up in Cooperstown.
Wade Davis - Once a highly-regarded pitching prospect with the Tampa Bay Rays, Davis ended up having his most value as a high-leverage reliever with the Kansas City Royals and Colorado Rockies. He finished his career with 141 saves.
Jay Bruce - A three-time All-Star, Bruce homered 319 times in his 14-year career. Bruce won back-to-back Silver Slugger Awards in 2012 and 2013, finishing 10th in NL MVP voting in both campaigns.
Jordan Zimmermann - Just about everyone involved would like to forget Zimmermann's five-year stint with the Detroit Tigers, but the prior seven seasons, spent with the Washington Nationals, were memorable. Zimmermann was a two-time All-Star as a National, and finished in the top 10 in NL Cy Young Award voting in 2013 and 2014.
Kyle Seager - Corey's older brother spent his entire 11-year career with the Seattle Mainers, and is one of the best players in franchise history. Seager homered 20 or more times in nine different seasons, and finished his career with 242 home runs.
Joakim Soria - Soria spent 14 seasons as a major league reliever, making two All-Star teams as a member of the Kansas City Royals. Soria's 229 career saves put him among the top 50 all time in that category.
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