Cooperstown just got a little more crowded-and a lot more talented.
Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones have officially punched their tickets to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, earning election through the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Beltrán, in his fourth year on the ballot, received 84.2% of the vote.
Jones, in his ninth year of eligibility, crossed the threshold with 78.4%. They’ll join Jeff Kent, who was selected by the Era Committee, as the Class of 2026 gets enshrined this July.
For both Beltrán and Jones, this moment has been a long time coming-and richly deserved.
Beltrán: A Switch-Hitting Star with October Brilliance
Carlos Beltrán becomes just the fifth player born in Puerto Rico to make it to Cooperstown, and his résumé speaks for itself. Over two decades in the big leagues, Beltrán built a legacy as one of the most complete center fielders of his era. He's one of just eight players in MLB history to reach both 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases, and he ranks among the top 30 all-time in extra-base hits and doubles.
Beltrán’s skill set was the full package-power, speed, defense, and a knack for showing up when it mattered most. A nine-time All-Star, he also took home two Silver Sluggers and three Gold Gloves, and he burst onto the scene with the 1999 AL Rookie of the Year award. He suited up for seven teams, but he’s best remembered for his impact with the Royals, Mets, and Astros.
But where Beltrán truly separated himself was in October. Across 65 postseason games, he slashed .307/.412/.609-numbers that don’t just look good, they look legendary.
His 2004 playoff run with the Astros remains one of the most dominant in recent memory: a .435 average, eight home runs, six stolen bases, and an OPS north of 1.500. He returned to Houston in 2017 and capped off his career with a World Series title.
Of course, that 2017 title came with controversy. Beltrán was the only player publicly implicated in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, a cloud that likely delayed his Hall call.
He lost his job as Mets manager before ever leading a game, and last year he came just short of induction with 70.3% of the vote. But with time, voters clearly recognized the totality of his career-and the undeniable impact he had on the game.
Jones: A Defensive Wizard Who Could Rake, Too
If you grew up watching baseball in the late '90s and early 2000s, you probably remember Andruw Jones gliding across center field like he owned it. Because, frankly, he did.
Jones is widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive center fielders the game has ever seen. His 10 Gold Gloves are tied with Ken Griffey Jr. for second-most among center fielders, trailing only Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente among all outfielders. But Jones wasn’t just a glove-first guy-he brought serious thunder at the plate, too.
Over 17 seasons, mostly with the Braves, Jones posted an .823 OPS, hit 434 home runs, and drove in 1,289 runs. His 2005 season was a showstopper: 51 homers, a Silver Slugger, and the NL Hank Aaron Award. He’s one of only four players in history to hit 400+ home runs and win at least 10 Gold Gloves, joining Griffey, Mays, and Mike Schmidt-a pretty exclusive club.
Jones broke into the majors as a teenager in 1996, helping anchor the Braves’ outfield for more than a decade during the tail end of their NL East dynasty. His bat cooled off after age 30, and he spent the twilight of his career in part-time roles with the Dodgers, Rangers, White Sox, and Yankees before finishing up in Japan. But his early peak-especially defensively-was so elite that it eventually overwhelmed any doubts about his candidacy.
His path to the Hall wasn’t easy. Jones debuted on the ballot in 2018 with just 7.3% of the vote, dangerously close to falling off altogether.
But over the years, support steadily grew as more voters began to appreciate just how rare his combination of defense and power truly was. Two years ago, he crossed the 60% mark, and now he’s reached the summit.
“It was very close for me to be off the ballot,” Jones said. “To go all the way from 7% and be in the Hall of Fame is a great honor.”
A Rare Feat for Center Fielders
Beltrán and Jones are just the ninth and 10th primary center fielders ever elected by the BBWAA since voting began in 1936. In the 21st century, only two others-Kirby Puckett in 2001 and Ken Griffey Jr. in 2016-have received that honor from the writers. That speaks volumes about how tough the position is, and how high the bar has been set for election.
Now, Beltrán and Jones join that elite fraternity. Two center fielders, two different paths, one shared destination: immortality in Cooperstown.