The 2025 National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot introduces 14 new candidates alongside 14 holdovers from the 2024 voting. Prominent newcomers include Ichiro Suzuki, Dustin Pedroia, Carlos González, Hanley Ramírez, Félix Hernández, and CC Sabathia. These players bring impressive resumes, including MVP awards, Cy Young honors, batting titles, and All-Star selections. The ballot will be reviewed by nearly 400 voting members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA), with a 75% voting threshold required for induction during the Hall of Fame ceremony from July 25-28, 2025, in Cooperstown, N.Y.
In the 2024 election, Adrian Beltré, Joe Mauer, and Todd Helton were inducted after receiving votes from over 75% of the electorate. Billy Wagner narrowly missed induction by five votes, securing 73.8% in his penultimate year of eligibility. Notable returning candidates include Andruw Jones, Gary Sheffield, and Carlos Beltrán. Sheffield, who fell short of induction, will now be considered by the Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee for future ballots.
Candidates are eligible for up to 10 years on the ballot, provided they maintain at least 5% of the vote. Returning players include standout pitchers Mark Buehrle, Andy Pettitte, and Francisco Rodríguez, as well as accomplished infielders and outfielders like Álex Rodríguez, Chase Utley, Omar Vizquel, and Manny Ramírez. These holdovers face stiff competition from the slate of first-time nominees, many of whom have Hall of Fame-worthy credentials.
Ichiro Suzuki stands out as one of the most decorated new candidates. During his 19-season MLB career, he amassed 3,089 hits and won both the AL MVP and Rookie of the Year awards in 2001, a rare feat shared only with Fred Lynn. He earned 10 Gold Glove Awards, two batting titles, and 10 All-Star selections. During his career in Japan, Suzuki tallied 4,367 hits, a mark unparalleled in baseball history.
Dustin Pedroia also boasts Rookie of the Year and MVP honors, achieved in consecutive seasons (2007-2008) while playing for the Red Sox. His career highlights include four Gold Gloves, four All-Star selections, and two World Series championships. Despite his career being cut short by injury, Pedroia’s consistent performance as a second baseman positions him as a strong candidate.
Félix Hernández, a six-time All-Star, was among the most dominant pitchers of his era. Known as “King Félix,” he won the 2010 AL Cy Young Award and threw a perfect game in 2012. CC Sabathia, another premier pitcher, won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award and achieved a rare combination of 250 wins and 3,000 strikeouts, placing him in elite company among left-handers.
Among hitters, Carlos González and Hanley Ramírez bring noteworthy accolades. González captured a batting title and multiple Gold Gloves, while Ramírez won a batting title and displayed rare versatility, becoming the first player to combine 20 home runs, 50 stolen bases, and significant shortstop play in one season. Other new names include standout contributors like Troy Tulowitzki, Curtis Granderson, and Ben Zobrist, all of whom had key moments in championship runs.
Voting results will be announced on January 21, 2025, with ballots due by December 31, 2024. The diverse roster of nominees, including newcomers and returning stars, offers voters the challenging task of evaluating careers that have left significant marks on baseball history.
