The Royals have opened voting for the 2027 Hall of Fame class, giving fans a say in a ballot that mixes longtime favorites with a fresh group of first-time eligibles.
Online voting is live now and runs through Monday, Nov. 16, at 11:59 p.m. CT at www.royals.com/hofvote.
This year’s process still follows the Royals’ two-phase setup. The Regular Phase covers former players and managers who are eligible under the standard rules, while the Veterans Committee is controlled by the Royals Hall of Fame Executive Board and can consider non-field personnel as well as alumni who have already appeared on a Regular Phase ballot but are no longer eligible that way.
To get on the ballot for the first time, Royals alumni must have spent at least three seasons with the club and reached either 1,500 plate appearances, 300.0 innings pitched, or the equivalent of three full seasons as a manager. They also must have been out of Major League Baseball in the role being considered for at least three calendar years before the election.
The 2027 ballot features eight returning candidates and four newcomers. The holdovers are OF Carlos Beltrán (1998-2004), 1B/DH Billy Butler (2007-2014), OF Lorenzo Cain (2011-2017), RHP Wade Davis (2013-2016; 2021), SS Alcides Escobar (2011-2018), RHP Kelvin Herrera (2011-2018), RHP Greg Holland (2010-2015, 2020-2021) and RHP Joakim Soria (2007-2011, 2016-2017).
The first-time names are RHP Zack Greinke (2004-2010, 2022-23), 1B Eric Hosmer (2011-2017), RHP Ian Kennedy (2016-2020) and 3B Mike Moustakas (2011-2018).
Fans are part of the final decision, but they’re not alone. Other voters include all living members of the Royals Hall of Fame, the Royals Ownership Group, members of the Royals Hall of Fame Executive Board, select members of the Kansas City Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America and Kansas City media, plus current Royals front office staff with at least 15 years of service.
The fan ballot carries 12 full votes for each of the top five vote getters. Any candidate who reaches 75% of the vote is elected and will be inducted during the 2027 Royals season. Players who get at least 10% can stay on the ballot for five regular phase election cycles.
The Royals Hall of Fame dates back to 1986, created to honor players, coaches and other personnel who made exceptional contributions to Kansas City Royals Baseball.
The first inductees were OF Amos Otis and RHP Steve Busby. Since then, the Hall has grown to include LHP Paul Splittorff, 2B Cookie Rojas, Manager Dick Howser, RHP Dennis Leonard, DH Hal McRae, SS Fred Patek, Club President Joe Burke, LHP Larry Gura, Royals founders Ewing and Muriel Kauffman, 3B George Brett, 2B Frank White, 1B John Mayberry, RHP Dan Quisenberry, Manager Whitey Herzog, CF Willie Wilson, RHP Jeff Montgomery, Broadcaster Denny Matthews, RHP Bret Saberhagen, RHP Mark Gubicza, Scout Art Stewart, RHP Kevin Appier, Groundskeeper George Toma, 1B Mike Sweeney, Manager Ned Yost, General Manager Cedric Tallis, General Manager John Schuerholz, OF Bo Jackson, OF Alex Gordon and Player/Coach/Manager/Broadcaster/Scout John Wathan.
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