The National Baseball Hall of Fame 2025 class announcement is set for 6:00 p.m. ET tonight, January 21st. Last year's induction saw three players — Joe Mauer, Todd Helton and Adrian Beltré  — inducted, marking the highest number of players inducted at once since 2019. Here are my predictions for tonight's ballot results.

Dave Parker and Dick Allen were already elected to the Hall of Fame, so I will not be including them in the predictions.

Accolades: 10x All-Star, 10x Gold Glove, 3x Silver Slugger, 2x Batting Title, 2001 AL MVP, Rookie of the Year, 2007 All-Star Game MVP

Career Stats: 60.0 WAR, 3,089 H, 117 HR, 780 RBI, 509 SB, .311 BA, .355 OBP, .402 SLG

In his rookie year, Ichiro led the American League with a .350 batting average, 242 hits and 56 stolen bases, becoming just the second rookie ever to win the MVP, joining Fred Lynn.

His .350 batting average and 242 hits was the beginning of a decade-long streak where Ichiro batted over .300 and recorded at least 200 hits each season.

Ichiro is also a member of the 3,000-hit club and in 2004 he set the single-season record with 262 hits. That season he had a .372 batting average that year — no player has achieved a season with a higher batting average since.

Being one of the purist hitters in the game, while also earning 10 Gold Gloves, I firmly believe that Ichiro will join Mariano Rivera as the second player ever to receive a unanimous vote.

Accolades: 6x All-Star, 2007 AL Cy Young, 2009 World Series, ALCS MVP

Career Stats: 62.3 WAR, 251-161 W-L, 3.74 ERA, 3577.1 IP, 3,093 SO, 1.259 WHIP

CC Sabathia spent nearly two decades as a top-of-the-rotation workhorse. At his peak, there was little doubt he was one of the best pitchers in baseball and a true ace. In 2007, he won the AL Cy Young Award. The following year, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in the middle of the season, where he put together one of the most impressive runs ever for a rental starter. Sabathia went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 130.2 innings, logging seven complete games and three shutouts in 17 starts. Sabathia's run led Milwaukee to its first playoff berth in 26 years.

After his rental year in Milwaukee, he joined the New York Yankees in free agency, where he spent the rest of his career. In his first year with New York, he won the World Series. During that postseason, he put together a 3-1 record with a 1.98 ERA in 36.1 innings pitched. He also earned ALCS MVP. While he won the Cy Young Award just once in his career, he finished in the top five, five different times. 

Getting inducted into the Hall of Fame in your first year on the ballot is tough, but I believe Sabathia has the stats to be a one and done.

Accolades: 7x All-Star, 1999 NL Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year

Career Stats: 27.7 WAR, 47-40 W-L, 2.31 ERA, 422 SV, 903 IP, 1,196 SO, 0.998 WHIP

Wagner's Hall of Fame candidacy has gone up significant amounts over the past couple of years from 51% in 2022, 68.1% in 2023 and 73.8% last year, leaving him just 1.2% shy of induction.

Wagner ranks eighth all-time in saves with 422. Among pitchers with at least 900 innings pitched, he holds the highest strikeouts per nine innings at 11.92, the lowest opponent batting average of .187 and the fewest hits allowed per nine innings at 5.99. Additionally, he boasts the second-best WHIP of all time at 0.998, again with a minimum of 900 innings pitched. His career ERA of 2.31 would place him second all-time among Hall of Fame relievers, trailing only Mariano Rivera.

With it being his last year on the ballot, I believe that Billy Wagner will finally receive the recognition he deserves.

Accolades: 5x All-Star, 10x Gold Glove, 1x Silver Slugger, 2005 Hank Aaron Award

Career Stats: 62.7 WAR, 1,933 H, 434 HR, 1,289 RBI, 152 SB, .254 BA, .337 OBP, .486 SLG

Andruw Jones is approaching his seventh year on the Hall of Fame ballot. Known for his outstanding defensive skills, Jones remains below the 75% threshold for induction but has steadily increased his support over the years — from 41.4% in 2022, to 58.1% in 2023 and a slight increase to 61.6% in 2024. During his career, Jones earned 10 Gold Glove awards, tying Greg Maddux for the most Gold Gloves as a Brave. Additionally, he holds the highest defensive WAR in Braves history at 26.6.

Offensively, Jones posted a career batting line of .254/.337/.486, launching 434 home runs and collecting 1,933 hits. He also made appearances in MVP voting, placing in the top 16 five times and achieving a career-high second-place finish in 2005, a year in which he also won the Hank Aaron Award.

It seems likely that Jones will have his name in Cooperstown in the future, but year seven may not be when.

Accolades: 9x All-Star, 3x Gold Glove, 2x Silver Slugger, 1999 AL Rookie of the Year, 2013 Roberto Clemente Award

Career Stats: 70.1 WAR, 2,725 H, 435 HR, 1,587 RBI, 312 SB, .279 BA, .350 OBP, .486 SLG

Carlos Beltrán has checked many boxes in his 20-year career. From winning Rookie of the Year to collecting multiple Silver Sluggers and Gold Gloves, his résumé is a testament to his versatility and skill on the field. Beltrán also made numerous All-Star appearances and earned the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, capped by winning a World Series in his final year.

Beltrán is one of only five players in MLB history to achieve the rare combination of 400 home runs and 300 stolen bases. Over his career, he totaled 2,725 hits and maintained a career slash line of .279/.350/.486.

Beltrán's blend of power, speed and defensive excellence has firmly cemented him into Hall of Fame talks as he has reached 57.1% of the votes in just two years on the ballot. 

While I believe he will fall short again, his number should creep closer to 75%.