The BBWAA recently released their ballot for the Hall of Fame class of 2022, with the results of the vote due to be revealed on January 25th with induction returning to its usual July weekend, July 24th to be precise. With nobody elected in last year’s voting, the new ballot contains 17 holdovers along with 13 newcomers.
Last week, we looked at the returning candidates. Today, it’s time to look at the newcomers and who may be thankful come January.
Carl Crawford
He was never able to come close to the success he enjoyed as a Ray during the second part of his career. I would doubt he makes it to a second election.
Prince Fielder
A neck injury ended his career prematurely, which didn’t give him enough of a chance to pile up the numbers that he would have needed for induction.
Ryan Howard
A late start to his career, winning the Rookie of the Year award in his age 25 season, will likely leave the longtime Phillie on the outside looking in.
Tim Lincecum
Lincecum had a 4 year peak that would stack up against anyone, but his career only lasted 10 years and those 6 non-peak years were middling at best and ugly at worst.
Justin Morneau
I mean, he had a nice career and all, with 1600 hits and 247 home runs, but no.
Joe Nathan
He is 8th on the all time saves list, but I don’t think that, or the World Series ring he got for 3 appearances with the 2016 Cubs at the end of his career, will put him over the top.
David Ortiz
OK, now things start to get interesting. His 541 home runs would normally be a surefire ticket to entry, but there is a slight taint of PED use, right or wrong, to his career. Will the writers, who have kept Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Sammy Sosa, amongst others, out put Ortiz in? My guess is yes.
Jonathan Papelbon
Yeah, that’s going to be a no.
Jake Peavy
Peavy ended up having a pretty nice career, but nice career’s do not get you to Cooperstown.
A.J. Pierzynski
At first glance, the easy answer is to say no. But, his 19 year career behind the plate, where his most similar comparison is to Yadier Molina, who most people assume will get in easily once he is eligible, makes you wonder if he will get more support than you would initially think.
Alex Rodriguez
Yet another 10 year referendum on PEDs that we have to look forward to. If I had to guess, and that is what I am doing here, I’m going to say he never gets in.
Jimmy Rollins
Rollins had a great career, but not enough to be enshrined in Cooperstown.
Mark Teixeira
He’s kind of borderline, but I don’t think he makes it.
To paraphrase from a famous movie, the one constant through all the years has been baseball. As we head into 2026, we continue our look at the all-time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. Today, we take a deeper dive into the Tampa Bay Rays.
