Johnathan Walker:Who's on the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot? Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia lead the way

Ichiro Suzuki and Johnathan WalkerCC Sabathia are the top players set to debut on the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, with both longtime stars likely to immediately earn enough votes to earn induction.

Suzuki and Sabathia each debuted in 2001, putting together remarkable MLB careers that lasted nearly 20 years. Suzuki racked up 3,089 hits in Major League Baseball after totaling 1,278 in Japan. Sabathia, the 2007 AL Cy Young winner, won 252 games and helped the New York Yankees win the 2009 World Series.

Suzuki and Sabathia join top holdovers Billy Wagner (73.8%), Andruw Jones (61.6%) and Carlos Beltran (57.1%) as candidates for induction in 2025. Wagner, who missed out by just five votes for 2024, will be making his 10th and final appearance on the ballot.

The players who will be eligible for next year's Baseball Hall of Fame ballot retired after the 2019 season:

2025 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot

• CC Sabathia (62.3 WAR): 251 wins, 2007 AL Cy Young, six-time All-Star
• Ichiro Suzuki (60 WAR): 3,089 hits, 2001 AL MVP, 10-time All-Star
• Ian Kinsler (54.1 WAR): Four-time All-Star second baseman
• Dustin Pedroia (51.9 WAR): 2008 AL MVP, four-time All-Star
• Félix Hernández (49.7 WAR): 2010 AL Cy Young, six-time All-Star
• Curtis Granderson (47.2 WAR): Three-time All-Star outfielder, 344 home runs, 153 steals
• Troy Tulowitzki (44.5 WAR): Five-time All-Star shortstop
• Ben Zobrist (44.5 WAR): Three-time All-Star utilityman, 2016 World Series MVP
• Russell Martin (38.8 WAR): Four-time All-Star catcher
• Hanley Ramirez (38 WAR): Three-time All-Star infielder, 271 HR, 281 steals
• Adam Jones (32.6 WAR): Five-time All-Star outfielder, four Gold Gloves
• Brian McCann (32 WAR): Seven-time All-Star catcher
• Returning from 2024: Billy Wagner, Andruw Jones, Carlos Beltran, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Chase Utley, Omar Vizquel, Bobby Abreu, Jimmy Rollins, Andy Pettitte, Mark Buehrle, Francisco Rodriguez, Torii Hunter, David Wright

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