Beltrán’s Second-Year Surge on Hall of Fame Ballot with 57.1 Percent In the recent announcement of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot results, Carlos Beltrán experienced a notable uptick in support during his second year of eligibility.
The former Mets center fielder received 57.1 percent of the votes, up from 46.5 percent in the previous year.
Despite this increase, Beltrán fell short of the required 75 percent for induction, mirroring the fate of other former Mets on the ballot, including Billy Wagner and David Wright.
Wagner, who served as the Mets’ closer from 2006-09, received 73.8 percent of the BBWAA vote, narrowly missing the 75 percent threshold for induction by five votes. This marks his ninth year of eligibility, and he now has one final chance on the next ballot.
Wagner’s support has steadily grown since his first year on the ballot in 2016, when he received 10.5 percent. Notably, his flamethrowing style and career strikeout record of 11.9 batters per nine innings distinguishes him among the elite relievers.
Despite Beltrán’s impressive 20-year career as one of the most accomplished all-around center fielders of his generation, he faces challenges due to his connection to the 2017 Astros’ sign-stealing scandal.
This controversy, which also led to his dismissal as Mets manager, has influenced the early stages of his Hall of Fame candidacy.
David Wright, in his first year of eligibility, secured 6.2 percent of the votes. The former Mets third baseman, despite an impressive career trajectory in the early part of his playing days, faced setbacks due to injuries during his 30s, impacting his counting stats and Hall of Fame prospects.
Notably, other first-time candidates with Mets ties, including José Reyes and Bartolo Colón, did not meet the 5 percent threshold to stay on the ballot. Additionally, Gary Sheffield, a former Met, fell short of the 75 percent needed for induction in his 10th and final year on the BBWAA ballot.
His next opportunity for Hall of Fame consideration will be through the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee in December 2025.
