The Baseball Hall of Fame welcomes the Class of 2026 this weekend in Cooperstown, a three-player group considered among the best of their generation.
Center fielders Andruw Jones and Carlos Beltrán, and second baseman Jeff Kent will be immortalized, three stars who took dramatically different paths to this moment.
Beltrán had to wait until his fourth year on the ballot, some form of punishment for his presence in the Astros’ 2017 cheating scandal. Jones, arguably the greatest defensive center fielder of all time, saw his support rise all the way from 7.3% to induction-worthy in his ninth appearance.
Kent, who redefined the keystone, got in through the veterans committees just a few years after his time on the official ballot came to an end.
“I had painted a picture that I accepted, which was that it’s probably just not going to happen,’’ Kent said. “I’m OK with it. You know, it’s not going to make my life much better anyway, so I’ll just deal with it.”
The ceremony takes place on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET, airing on MLB Network.
Here’s what to know about this year’s festivities:
Baseball Hall of Fame inductees 2026
Carlos Beltrán
Jeff Kent
Andruw Jones
Where is Baseball Hall of Fame?
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is in Cooperstown, New York.
The Hall of Fame’s first class was in 1936, consisting of Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson.
The museum itself was dedicated in 1939.
Where is Cooperstown?
Cooperstown is in upstate New York − Otsego County − about a 200-mile drive from Yankee Stadium.
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(Salaries in present-day value calculated by MLB Labor Relations Department, impacted by deferrals and signing bonuses)
1. Juan Soto, Mets – $61,875,000
(Brad Penner, Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
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(Salaries in present-day value calculated by MLB Labor Relations Department, impacted by deferrals and signing bonuses)
1. Juan Soto, Mets – $61,875,000
(Brad Penner, Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
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2. Cody Bellinger, Yankees – $42,500,000
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)
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3. Bo Bichette, Mets – $42 million
(Sam Navarro, Imagn Images)
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3. Zack Wheeler, Phillies – $42 million
(Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)
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5. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays – $40,214,286
(Wendell Cruz, Imagn Images)
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6. Aaron Judge, Yankees – $40 million
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)
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7. Anthony Rendon, Angels – $38,571,429
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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8. Jacob deGrom, Rangers – $38 million
(Arianna Grainey, Imagn Images)
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9. Mike Trout, Angels – $37,116,667
(Rick Scuteri, Imagn Images)
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10. Gerrit Cole, Yankees – $36,000,000
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
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11. Jose Altuve, Astros – $33 million
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
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11. Kyle Tucker, Dodgers – $33 million
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
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13. Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers – $32,500,000
(Rick Scuteri, Imagn Images)
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14. Francisco Lindor, Mets – $32,477,277
(Jim Rassol, Imagn Images)
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15. Tarik Skubal, Tigers – $32 million
(Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images)
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16. Carlos Correa, Astros – $31,500,000
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
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16. Corey Seager, Rangers – $31,500,000
(Peter Aiken, Imagn Images)
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18. Sonny Gray, Red Sox – $31 million
(Julio Aguilar, Getty Images)
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19. Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks – $30,790,069
(Allan Henry, Imagn Images)
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20. Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees – $29 million
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)
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21. Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers – $28,536,643
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
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22. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers – $28,206,684
(Kiyoshi Mio, Imagn Images)
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23. Dansby Swanson, Cubs – $28 million
(Rick Scuteri, Imagn Images)
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24. Carlos Rodon, Yankees – $27,833,333
(Jesse Johnson, Imagn Images)
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25. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (*retired) – $27,814,045
(Brad Mills, Imagn Images)
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26. Bryce Harper, Phillies – $27,538,462
(Bill Streicher, Imagn Images)
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27. Trea Turner, Phillies – $27,272,727
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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28. Blake Snell, Dodgers – $27,152,056
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
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29. Kris Bryant, Rockies – $27 million
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
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30. Yordan Alvarez, Astros – $26,833,333
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
Jeff Kent stats
1992 (Toronto Blue Jays / New York Mets): 102 games | .239 AVG | 11 HR | 50 RBIs | 73 hits
Career Totals: 2,586 games | .279 AVG | 435 HR | 1,587 RBIs | 312 SB | 2,725 hits
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
(Scott Marshall, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
(Scott Marshall, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Cleveland Guardians mascot Slider interacts with fans during game against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 17, 2026.
(David Richard, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Washington Nationals right fielder Daylen Lile attempts to catch a ball hit for a single by the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jake Mangum during the first inning at PNC Park on April 16, 2026. The Nationals won the game, 8-7.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez wears a special chest protector to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field on April 15, 2026.
(Benny Sieu, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 13: The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Spencer Horwitz celebrates a home run in the dugout while wearing a welder’s hood during the 16-5 win over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 12: Philadelphia Phillies mascot, The Phanatic, entertains fans with local team mascots for a birthday celebration before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.
(Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 11: The Tampa Bay Rays’ Jonathan Aranda (left) celebrates with Ryan Vilade after hitting a walk-off single against the New York Yankees in the 10th inning of a 5-4 win at Tropicana Field.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramirez acknowledges the fans after becoming the team’s all-time leader in games played against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2026.
(David Dermer, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A rainbow appears during the fourth inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 6, 2026.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A fan dresses as the Pope claps during the first inning of the game between the Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays at Rate Field on April 5, 2026. The White Sox won the game, 3-0, to complete a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays.
(Matt Marton, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin celebrates with a traffic cone after making his major-league debut in a 5-4 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, 2026.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A young Red Sox fan meets Tessie the Boston Red Sox mascot before the Red Sox’s home opener against the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park on April 3, 2026.
(Eric Canha, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) and center fielder Jakob Marsee celebrate a victory against the Chicago White Sox at loanDepot Park on April 1, 2026.
(Jim Rassol, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Fans try to catch a solo home run hit by the San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman as San Diego Padres left fielder Nick Castellanos looks on during the third inning at Petco Park on March 31, 2026.
(Denis Poroy, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Philadelphia Phillies mascot The Phillie Phanatic entertains fans during the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on March 31, 2026.
(Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Toronto Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto gets doused with ice water by teammates after a win over the Athletics at Rogers Centre on March 29, 2026.
(John E. Sokolowski, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Cincinnati Reds’ Eugenio Suárez blows a bubble as he waits to bat against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2026.
(Aaron Doster, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The St. Louis Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt is doused with water by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 10th inning at Busch Stadium on March 28, 2026.
(Jeff Curry, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Fans react as the Milwaukee Brewers’ Jake Bauers homers against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 26, 2026.
(Jovanny Hernandez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before the Opening Day game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.
