Jeff Kent finally gets his due with HOF election

The Nationwide Baseball Corridor of Fame could have at the least one member of the 2026 class.

Former San Francisco Giants second baseman Jeff Kent was elected to the Corridor of Fame by the Up to date Baseball Period Committee. He acquired 14 of 16 votes, the one candidate to succeed in the 75% threshold. Carlos Delgado (9 votes), Don Mattingly (six votes) and Dale Murphy (six votes) will likely be eligible for the subsequent poll in 2027. Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela acquired fewer than 5 votes and won’t be eligible for the poll till 2031.

Kent was a late bloomer, a strong participant for the primary few years of his profession. Initially a twentieth spherical draft choose by the Blue Jays in 1989, he was traded to the Mets in 1992 for pitcher David Cone. Kent grew to become the Mets beginning second baseman till he was traded to Cleveland for fellow second baseman Carlos Baerga. His stick with the Indians was transient, as he was traded to the Giants throughout the 1996-97 offseason.

San Francisco Giants star Jeff Kent will get lengthy overdue name to Corridor of Fame

The commerce to San Francisco was precisely what Kent wanted. He grew to become a star with the Giants, pairing with Barry Bonds to kind a formidable duo within the lineup. Kent would spend six years with the Giants earlier than shifting on to the Astros and Dodgers to wrap up his profession. 

General, the five-time All-Star and 2000 NL MVP posted a .290/.356/.500 batting line in his 9,537 plate appearances, hitting 377 homers and 560 doubles whereas driving in 1518 runs. Kent holds the record for many homers hit by a second baseman and is third in RBI and OPS (.856) and fifth in doubles.

His efficiency didn’t translate to success on the author’s poll. Kent languished on the poll for 10 years, incomes lower than 20% of the vote in his first six years. A late push introduced Kent to 46.5% of the vote in 2023, his closing yr on the poll, leaving him considerably in need of induction.

Inducting Kent is a continuation of the Veteran’s Committee righting the wrongs of the BBWAA. Kent was probably the most productive second basemen within the historical past of the sport, a slugger the likes of which had been on the place beforehand. Whereas different gamers on the poll had been additionally snubbed, Kent could assist open the door for different second basemen resembling Lou Whitaker and Bobby Grich. Their name, as was the case with Kent, is lengthy overdue.