The 2025 Hall of Fame ballot for the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) has been officially released. The ballot features some of baseball's greatest talents, including renowned hitters like Ichiro Suzuki, elite pitchers such as CC Sabathia, and one of the most successful closers in MLB history, Billy Wagner. These stars are among the top names on the ballot and could be part of the same Hall of Fame class in 2025.
First Timers on the 2025 HOF Ballot
Ichiro and Sabathia lead a group of 14 newcomers to the Hall of Fame ballot. Other notable firsttime candidates include:
Dustin Pedroia – Twotime World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox
Félix Hernández – Legendary pitcher and Seattle Mariners icon
Carlos González, Curtis Granderson, Adam Jones, Ian Kinsler, Russell Martin, Brian McCann, Hanley Ramirez, Fernando Rodney, Troy Tulowitzki, and Ben Zobrist
Each player has had a notable career in Major League Baseball and is now up for consideration for enshrinement in Cooperstown.
Ichiro Suzuki’s Legacy and Potential for Unanimous Vote
Ichiro Suzuki, who is widely regarded as one of the best hitters in baseball history, leads the firsttime candidates. A member of the prestigious 3,000hit club in the Majors, Ichiro’s total hits soar beyond 4,000 when factoring in his career in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. A 10time AllStar and 10time Gold Glove Award winner, Ichiro was also named the 2001 American League MVP and Rookie of the Year. His remarkable career could make him a strong candidate for becoming only the second player in MLB history to be unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame.
CC Sabathia: A Hall of Fame Pitching Career
CC Sabathia, a World Series champion in 2009 with the New York Yankees, is also among the top firsttime candidates. Known for his reliability and consistent performance as a starting pitcher, Sabathia has earned six AllStar selections and was awarded the AL Cy Young Award in 2007. With more than 250 wins and over 3,000 strikeouts, Sabathia is one of the most accomplished pitchers in MLB history and a strong contender for Hall of Fame induction.
Billy Wagner’s Final Year on the Ballot
Billy Wagner, a dominant lefthanded closer, is in his 10th and final year on the Hall of Fame ballot. Wagner came very close to induction in 2024, receiving 73.8% of the vote. With 422 career saves and a remarkable 2.31 ERA over 903 innings, Wagner’s performance solidified him as one of the greatest closers of all time. If his vote percentage continues to rise, he may finally cross the 75% threshold in 2025, earning his place in Cooperstown as the ninth relief pitcher to be inducted.
Other Returning Candidates
Several notable players are returning to the ballot and have shown steady voting trends. These include:
Andruw Jones – 10time Gold Glove winner and 434 career home runs (61.6% of the vote in 2024)
Carlos Beltrán – One of only five players with 400 home runs and 300 stolen bases (57.1% in 2024)
Both players have had exceptional careers, but will need a significant surge in voting this year to reach the 75% threshold needed for induction.
Controversial Candidates: Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez
Both Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez are seen as two of the most powerful hitters in baseball history, but their connections to performanceenhancing drugs (PEDs) have likely kept their vote percentages lower. Rodriguez received 34.8% of the vote in 2024, while Ramirez garnered 32.5%. These numbers reflect the ongoing debate about how to handle players linked to PEDs in Hall of Fame voting.
Other Candidates and Voting Breakdown
The remaining returning candidates, along with their vote percentages from the previous year, include:
Chase Utley – 28.8%
Omar Vizquel – 17.7%
Bobby Abreu – 14.8%
Jimmy Rollins – 14.8%
Andy Pettitte – 13.5%
Mark Buehrle – 8.3%
Francisco Rodríguez – 7.8%
Torii Hunter – 7.3%
David Wright – 6.2%
Hall of Fame Voting Deadline and Announcement
All eligible BBWAA voters must submit their ballots by December 31, with the results set to be announced on January 21 on MLB Network. Any player who receives 75% of the vote, as well as any individuals elected from the Classic Baseball Era ballot, will be enshrined during the 2025 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on July 27 in Cooperstown, New York.
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