It was only Beltrán’s third year on the ballot — the maximum is 10 — so the graceful outfielder is in good shape to make it eventually. And next year should work in his favor because there probably won’t be any first-ballot inductees. Cole Hamels and Ryan Braun are expected to headline the newcomers.

After Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, attention turns to the ballot for 2026.