Billy Wagner has been on the MLB Hall of Fame ballot for seven years.
Unfortunately, he hasn’t been lucky enough to receive the call.
But with three years of ballot eligibility left for him, he has gained some traction in recent years.
Ever since his first year of eligibility, 2017, he has received more of the vote each year.
In 2017, he received just 10.2 percent of the vote.
At least 75 percent is needed for a player to be eligible for induction.
On Twitter, Codify posted some numbers regarding Wagner’s Hall of Fame case, showing just how much traction he has gained since his first year of eligibility and how close he came in 2023.
Billy Wagner's Hall of Fame vote shares by year:
2017: 10.2%
2018: 11.1%
2019: 16.7%
2020: 31.7%
2021: 46.4%
2022: 51.0%
2023: 68.1%pic.twitter.com/ApepB2miJG— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) January 25, 2023
Scott Rolen received 76.3 percent of the vote and was the only player inducted into the Hall.
But considering where Wagner was back in 2017, this is a significant jump.
This year, he received 68.1 percent of the vote.
That’s also a significant jump from last year, when he received 51 percent.
Needless to say, Wagner is trending in the right direction.
The veteran left-hander was a seven-time All-Star and a recipient of the Reliever of the Year Award.
During his 16-year career, he had an ERA of 2.31, a WAR of 27.7, 422 career saves, 1,196 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 0.998.
Wagner pitched for the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, and Atlanta Braves during his career.
Again, 75 percent is needed for a player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
It would seem that it’s only a matter of time before Wagner gets the call, especially given his recent trend.
NEXT: Carlos Beltran Stood Out Among First-Timers On The Ballot