It’s Hall of Fame season in MLB
That, and the fact there is currently a lockout, gives us time to think about which current MLB stars could be enshrined when their time is due.
These three National League players have a great chance of getting into Cooperstown eventually.
3. Joey Votto
At 38 years old, Joey Votto managed to revive his career in a big way during the 2021 season.
He struggled mightily in 2019 (.261/.357/.411, with just 15 home runs in 142 games) and 2020 (.226/.354/.446), but Votto’s bat woke up in 2021, with a marvelous .266/.375/.563 line, 36 home runs, and 99 RBI.
The season he just had is not only enough to dream about prolonging his career for a couple of extra years, but it’s also huge in his quest for the Hall of Fame.
Votto is not a lock for the Hall, but if he closes his career strong, he has a good chance.
you’d think joey votto is a hall of fame hitter if you saw the games i saw!
— Stephen J. Nesbitt (@stephenjnesbitt) October 30, 2021
At the moment, he has a fantastic .302/.416/.520 career line with a 149 wRC+, which means he has been 49 percent better than his peers.
The wRC+ stat means weighted Runs Created Plus, and the average is set at 100.
It’s very helpful to measure and compare offensive performance.
When it comes to totals, Votto has 331 home runs, 1114 runs, and 1,065 RBI.
It would be very hard, but 400 home runs aren’t out of the question.
The Cincinnati Reds first baseman has the individual accolades to boost his case: he was the 2020 NL MVP, he has a Gold Glove (2011), and is a six-time All-Star.
2. Jacob deGrom
New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom started pitching somewhat late, and may not accumulate the totals that previous generations of voters seek in a Hall of Famer: 300 wins and 3,000 strikeouts, for example.
But he is 33 years old, and should have at least five strong seasons in him to increase his odds of being enshrined.
Modern-thinking voters will surely value the fact that he has been dominant every season and has a career 2.50 ERA, with a 2.64 Fielding Independent Pitching, or FIP.
In addition, deGrom is a multiple Cy Young award winner (2018 and 2019) and should have been the MVP in 2018, when he had a 1.70 ERA in 217 innings.
He has struck out 10.70 hitters per nine innings during his career, which is awfully impressive for a starter, and was far and away the best pitcher in the world when he was healthy in 2021 (1.08 ERA in 92 innings).
He was the Rookie of the Year in 2014, is a four-time All-Star, and has two strikeout crowns.
He is on the Hall of Fame path.
1. Max Scherzer
Of the ballplayers listed here, Max Scherzer is the one whose place in Cooperstown seems the safest.
With a 190-97 record, he has a shot at 250 wins if he performs at his current level during his entire contract with the Mets.
11/29/2021 The Mets agree to a deal with Max Scherzer. The future Hall of Famer is a 3x Cy Young Award winner and 8x All-Star. He joins a rotation already headlined by Jacob deGrom. @Max_Scherzer pic.twitter.com/lSXXoq0lpS
— This Day in Mets History (@NYMhistory) November 29, 2021
Scherzer has a career 3.16 ERA and 3,020 strikeouts, and has been a dominant force for years.
His career is full of achievements and accolades.
He is an eight-time All-Star (2013–2019, 2021), a World Series champion (2019), and a three-time Cy Young award winner (2013, 2016, 2017).
He has led MLB in wins four times and in strikeouts three times.
Additionally, he has pitched two no-hitters, both in 2015.
If he retired today, he already has the credentials to be elected.
NEXT: Ranking The 3 Best Seasons Of Miguel Cabrera's Prime
VOTTO IS A LOCK, LOOK AT HIS CAREER MVP SHARES OF VOTES OVER HIS CAREER, HES LIKE 30 ON TLIST OF MOST MVP VOTES SINCE THEY STARTED VOTING, THATS EVERYONE IN HISTORY, I HATE WHEN HE DOESNT GET HIS DUE. Overall nice column thanks,
Jay