Upswing in voting a good omen for these 4 Hall hopefuls

Scott Rolen capped off the most important turnaround in Hall of Fame voting historical past on Tuesday night time when it was revealed that he will probably be enshrined in Cooperstown this summer season.

It could have been exhausting to fathom this second simply 5 years in the past, when Rolen acquired solely 10.2% of the votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in his first 12 months on the poll in 2018. Fast ahead to Tuesday night time, and Rolen’s title was chosen on 76.3% of the ballots — sufficient to surpass the 75% threshold mandatory for election.

Rolen’s ascension over the previous half-decade was not solely exceptional, it was historic. The 10.2% is the bottom debut whole for any participant who was later elected to the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA. But whereas Rolen could have been the one participant celebrating on Tuesday night time, numerous different candidates have loads of purpose for optimism after seeing their very own 2023 vote totals.

Here’s a more in-depth take a look at 4 gamers who, like Rolen, have continued to construct momentum within the voting outcomes and could possibly be on the verge of listening to their title referred to as in upcoming years.

Todd Helton
2023 % of votes: 72.2%
Increase from 2022: +22.2%
Year on poll: fifth

Helton made a major push in 2023, although he finally fell 11 votes shy of the 75% threshold wanted for enshrinement. Still, he continues to pattern upward after receiving solely 16.5% of the votes in his first 12 months on the poll in 2019.

Helton then acquired 29.2% in 2020, 44.9% in ’21 and 52% final 12 months. With that quantity leaping to 72.2% in the latest spherical of balloting, it appears probably that the lifelong Rockies famous person will probably be voted into the Hall of Fame sooner or later in his 5 remaining years of eligibility — presumably as quickly as 2024.

Billy Wagner
2023 % of votes: 68.1%
Increase from 2022: +17.1%
Year on poll: eighth

Wagner has solely two years of eligibility remaining, however he’s gained some critical momentum on the previous few ballots. After hovering round 10% in his first three years on the poll (10.5% in 2016, 10.2% in ’17 and 11.1% in ’18), Wagner made a marginal bounce to 16.7% in ’19.

But that quantity practically doubled to 31.7% in ’20, then noticed one other sizable enchancment when it checked in at 46.4% in ’21. With one other bounce from 51% to 68.1% this 12 months, Wagner all of the sudden finds himself knocking on the door of Cooperstown.

Andruw Jones
2023 % of votes: 58.1%
Increase from 2022: 16.7%
Year on poll: sixth

Jones appeared on lower than 10% of the ballots in every of his first two years of eligibility. In reality, his 7.3% in 2018 and seven.5% in ’19 had been barely sufficient to maintain him above the 5% threshold wanted to stay on the poll.

The five-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner has garnered way more consideration lately, going from 19.4% in 2020 to 33.9% in ’21 to 41.4% in 2022. With that quantity taking one other bounce to 58.1% this 12 months, Jones — who has 4 extra years of eligibility — will look to proceed his climb towards the 75% threshold within the coming years.

Gary Sheffield
2023 % of votes: 55%
Increase from 2022: +14.4%
Year on poll: ninth

Sheffield stays a protracted shot with just one extra 12 months left on the poll, however he’s nonetheless seen his whole rise from a low 11.1% in 2018 to a excessive of 55% this 12 months. Of course, that also leaves him properly wanting the 75% wanted for induction — however maybe it being his ultimate likelihood subsequent 12 months will sway some voters, particularly after his large bounce in 2023.