Today is the day.
Later this evening, the big announcement will take place, and we will find out which players will ultimately receive the call for the Hall of Fame.
Several MLB stars who had legendary careers are on the ballot.
Some have been there for quite some time, while others are getting their first taste of it.
One player who is getting his first taste is left-hander Billy Wagner.
The veteran closer pitched 16 seasons in Major League Baseball, spending time with the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, and Atlanta Braves.
Longtime MLB broadcaster Bob Costas weighed in on Wagner’s Hall of Fame case and discussed why he believed the lefty deserves a chance to be enshrined in Cooperstown.
"When you compare [Billy Wagner] to those who are already in as relief pitchers… his stats are so overwhelmingly great that it's impossible to ignore him."
Hall of Famer Bob Costas looks ahead to tomorrow's @baseballhall election on MLB Network.#HighHeat | @MadDogUnleashed pic.twitter.com/KzWzyhuxmm
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 24, 2023
Costas’ case for Wagner’s potential enshrinement is an interesting one.
Wagner’s postseason stats were never great, but if one analyzes his career stats, it simply is hard to ignore him, as Costas alluded to.
The 51-year-old had a career WAR of 27.7 and an ERA of 2.31.
In 853 career appearances, Wagner racked up a total of 422 saves.
He also threw a total of 903 innings, struck out 1,196 batters, and posted a WHIP of 0.998.
And so, the stats paint a pretty clear picture of what Wagner was able to accomplish over the course of his 16-year career.
It’s hard to overlook his numbers, as well as his Hall of Fame case.
Today, the veteran lefty might finally get a chance to have his name recognized in the Hall and reach the pinnacle of baseball success.
