Adrian Beltre, Chase Utley lead HOF ballot newcomers

[November 21, 2023]  Longtime slugger Adrian Beltre, Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley and Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer are among the 12 first-time candidates on the 2024 ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame, released Monday. 

The other nine ballot debutants are David Wright, Bartolo Colon, Matt Holliday, Adrian Gonzalez, Jose Reyes, Jose Bautista, Victor Martinez, James Shields and Brandon Phillips.

Beltre hammered 477 home runs, 636 doubles and 1,707 RBIs over a 21-year major league career with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-2004), Seattle Mariners (2005-09), Boston Red Sox (2010) and Texas Rangers (2011-18). He was a four-time All-Star who won four Silver Sluggers and five Gold Gloves across his career.

Utley spent 12-plus seasons of his 16-year career with the Phillies and won the 2008 World Series with the club. The six-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger recipient hit 259 home runs, 411 doubles and 1,025 RBIs for the Phillies (2003-15) and Dodgers (2015-18).

Mauer spent his entire 15-year career with Minnesota and won the 2009 American League MVP, when he batted .365 with a 1.031 OPS. Mauer was a career .306 hitter with 143 home runs, 428 doubles and 923 RBIs, earning six All-Star nods, five Silver Sluggers and three Gold Gloves.

The Hall of Fame ballot also includes returning candidates who have a chance to reach the 75 percent voting threshold in order to be inducted. Todd Helton (72.2 percent last year), Billy Wagner (68.1) and Andruw Jones (58.1) are in the mix to make it in 2024.

--Field Level Media

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