MLB Hall of Fame: Looking ahead to next year’s ballot

The 2017 Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place today and three new members will join the most prestigious club in all of baseball. Let’s take a look at next year’s ballot and who could get in.

The BBWAA voted three new members from the 2017 Hall of Fame ballot into Cooperstown. Tim Raines, Jeff Bagwell and Ivan Rodriguez all receive induction into the Hall of Fame today as the 2017 Hall of Fame class. The ceremony takes place at 1:30 p.m. ET. A broadcast of the event is available on MLB Network.

Raines got into the Hall in his final year of eligibility on the ballot. Although Raines never won the MVP award, he finished in the top 20 of the MVP vote in seven of his 21 seasons. He made the All-Star Game seven times, won a Silver Slugger award, a batting title and two World Series in 1996 and ’98 with the New York Yankees. His career stats include a slash line of .294/.385/.425 with 170 home runs, 980 RBI, 1,571 runs and 808 steals (fifth all-time).

Opposite of Raines, “Pudge” Rodriguez reached immortality in his first year of eligibility. An MVP in 1999, Rodriguez also earned 14 All-Star Game appearances, seven Silver Sluggers and 13 Gold Gloves. He holds the record for most Gold Gloves won by a catcher. He won a World Series in 2003 with the Florida Marlins. In his career, he hit .296/.334/.464 with 311 home runs, 1,332 RBI and 1,354 runs.

Bagwell reached the Hall of Fame in his seventh time on the ballot. The powerful first baseman played his entire 15-year career for the Houston Astros and never won a championship. He won the Rookie of the Year in 1991 and MVP in 1994. He was also a four-time All-Star, a three-time Silver Slugger and a one-time Gold Glove winner. In his 15 seasons, he hit .297/.408/.540 with 449 home runs, 1,529 RBI and 1,517 runs.

After tomorrow’s inductions, the focus shifts to the 2018 Hall of Fame ballot. Let’s take a look at next year’s ballot and who could make it into Cooperstown as the class of 2018.