NEWS: Carlos Beltran elected to Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026

After four tries, Carlos Beltran was finally elected to the Hall of Fame on January 20, cementing the legacy of one of the most complete and dynamic players of his generation — a switch-hitting center fielder who blended power, speed, defense and postseason excellence across two decades in the majors.

Beltran debuted with the Royals in 1998 and quickly established himself as a five-tool star, later becoming a cornerstone for the Astros, Mets, Cardinals, Yankees and Rangers.

Over 20 big league seasons, he compiled 2,725 hits, 435 home runs, 1,587 RBIs and 312 stolen bases, finishing with a .279 batting average, .350 on-base percentage and .486 slugging percentage. He is one of only a handful of players in MLB history to combine at least 400 homers and 300 steals, a statistical milestone that underscores his rare versatility.

The Puerto Rico native is one of only five players in baseball history in an exclusive club: more than 500 doubles, 400 homers and 300 steals in their careers. The other players are greats Willie Mays, Andre Dawson, Bobby Bonds and Alex Rodriguez. Mays and Dawson are in the Hall of Fame; Bonds and Rodriguez have been kept out of Cooperstown due to their association with performance enhancing drugs.

Beltran is also one of only 38 players in history with more than 1,500 runs scored and 1,500 runs batted in. Of that group, 30 have made the Hall. Rodriguez, Bonds, Manny Ramirez, Rafael Palmeiro, and Gary Sheffield have not been inducted, likely because of their connection to PEDs. Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera, not yet eligible, are no-doubt inductees.

A nine-time All-Star, Beltran won three Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger Awards, earning a reputation as an elite defender in center field with a strong arm and exceptional instincts.

Beltran’s postseason résumé further strengthened his Hall of Fame case. In 65 playoff games, he hit .307 with 16 home runs and a 1.021 OPS, delivering countless signature moments on October’s biggest stages, most memorably during Houston’s 2004 and 2005 postseason runs.

The one blemish on his career was his involvement in the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal of 2017. He was the only player cited in an MLB investigation — costing him his job as the news Mets manager in January 2020 weeks before spring training began.

The other player voted into the Hall’s 2026 class was outfielder Andruw Jones, joining second baseman Jeff Kent.