Carlos Beltrán (49), Andruw Jones (49), and Jeff Kent (58) have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame, etching their names in Major League Baseball (MLB) history.
The trio attended the MLB Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 27 in Cooperstown, New York.
Their enshrinement had been determined well in advance.
Kent secured his spot by garnering 14 out of 16 votes from the Modern Baseball Era Committee last December. Beltrán and Jones clinched their induction with 84.2% and 78.4% of the votes, respectively, in the Baseball Writers’ Association of America Hall of Fame balloting announced in January.
To earn a place in the Hall of Fame through the writers’ vote, a candidate must receive over 75% of the votes within ten years of eligibility.
Upon induction, honorees must choose a team to represent; Beltrán picked the New York Mets, Jones the Atlanta Braves, and Kent the San Francisco Giants.
Beltrán, one of only four players to achieve the rare feat of 400 home runs, 300 stolen bases, and three Gold Gloves – joining the elite company of Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Ken Griffey Jr. – played for seven teams over his 20-season career. He hit his stride during his tenure with the Mets, earning three Gold Gloves and five All-Star selections in that span.
In a post-ceremony press conference, Beltrán reflected that New York transformed my life. Here, he reached his greatest heights and faced the toughest challenges. His time with the Mets shaped me into a better person and a stronger leader. This sentiment underscored his choice to represent the Mets.
Jones made history as the first player from Curaçao to enter the Hall of Fame. He paid homage to Hensley Meulens, who paved the way as the sole MLB player from Curaçao before Jones broke into the big leagues in the mid-1990s.
Kent, the 2000 National League Most Valuable Player (MVP), blasted 351 of his 377 career home runs as a second baseman, setting the all-time record for homers at that position.
Kent expressed his hope for the future of the sport, saying that he wants baseball to continue uniting people and inspiring them to flock to ballparks for years to come.