Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is the biggest feat in all of baseball. Some players come into the league without even playing their first major league inning with a label of “Future Hall of Famer”. Others are less known guys who fight their way through the minors to stardom. Today were going to be taking a deeper look into my thoughts and opinions on who I think could be a potential hall of fame inductee from each team. The way I will be ranking them won’t be including the sure fire, near guaranteed hall of famers including the likes of Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols.
Final note: the players compiled in this list will be only players currently on MLB rosters, sorry Adley Rutschman. And Sean.
Baltimore Orioles
Cedric Mullins, OF, (26)
It was not very easy to make a solid pick here, but Cedric Mullins made this easier, and definitely brings orioles fans something to keep them entertained. Now I could have maybe gone with the likes of Ryan Mountcastle instead with him being 2 years younger than Mullins (26), but Mullins has been absolutly ELECTRIC this year. Mullins really broke out his shell In 2021. Prior to this season, Mullins in 115 career games had 84 hits, 25 XBH, and a .224 AVG. In 2021 with playing 1 less game than his career totals he’s enhanced those stats tremendously with, 140 hits, 53 XBH, and a .318 AVG. Can’t forget to mention he’s apart of the 20/20 Club though only playing 114 games to this point.
Toronto Blue Jays
Bo Bichette, SS, (23)
Now you may be thinking what the hell is wrong with this guy, does he not know Vladdy is on this team?? Like I said this isn’t going to be all the first names that pop into your head, plus Vladdy would have been too easy. Taking a look at a guy like Bo Bichette who I feel is the most underrated shortstop in all of the American League (Dansby Swanson will always in my opinion be the most underrated PLAYER in baseball), Bo has been a REALLY good offensive shortstop with a .295/.340/.499 Career slash line through his age 23 season. This is another player with 20/20 potential with already having 20 homers and 17 SB with a little more than a month and a half left of play. With youth on his side and if he could keep his current pace, he maybe help lead the young core of the Blue Jays to deep playoff runs in years to come.
New York Yankees
Aaron Judge, RF, (29)
The REAL 2017 AL MVP (just had to throw that out there, any Astros Fans reading this just know I hate you.) Aaron Judge is a easy to love guy who’s been the Yankees best offensive weapon Since 2017 (52 homers!? .627 SLG!?!?!). To this point in his career he’s put together an impressive slash line of .275/.387/.552 . Judge’s biggest downside has been his health which caused him to miss more than 100 games over from 2018-2020. Thankfully Judge has finally been able to stay on the field this season and has been the best player on the Yanks’ this season.
Tampa Bay Rays
Tyler Glasnow, SP, (27)
The Rays were a surprisingly hard team to choose from. Tampa Bay has been known for years for bringing in guys who aren’t household names who just manage to play like all-stars once they put on a Rays uniform but in the situation of Tyler Glasnow he had already been a household name, being a Top 10 prospect in all of baseball while in the Pirates Organization. Now that Glasnow had just recently had Tommy John Surgery that pushed his return date not until 2023, he’s definitely going to have to make up a lot of ground to be in the HOF conversation. With Glasnow on the right side of 30 I think if he could come back strong and have a deep career and possibly another deep playoff run he could help his case.
Boston Red Sox
Xander Bogaerts, SS, (28)
Xander Bogaerts has been the most consistent shortstop in all of baseball for the last half decade with 4 seasons batting .300 or better since 2015, three 20 plus HR seasons (On pace for a 4th this year), 3 Silver Sluggers, 3 All-Star appearances and most importantly, he’s a 2 time World Series Champion (2013, 2018). His accolades along with his career numbers easily give him one of the best cases for the hall of any players mentioned in this list.
Chicago White Sox
Andrew Vaughn, 1B/LF, (23)
Now this is one of my favorite players in all of the league right now. Andrew Vaughn is a guy when you see him play you’d never be able to tell he was only drafted 2 seasons ago. He plays with big league poise and confidence and has produced decently well through his first 100 games with 14 HR, 22 2B, and a slash line of .263/.333/.459. Now those may not be numbers that jump off the screen at you but for a guy who went from playing College Baseball, High-A ball and then straight to the MLB?!? Now you have to admit there must be something special about this guy and if you haven’t heard of him yet, trust me in years to come everyone will know this guys name.
Minnesota Twins
Alex Kirilloff, RF/1B, (23)
Now the Twins have been absolutely atrocious in 2021, have not had very many bright spots and have had the injury bug destroying them all season including the aforementioned Kirilloff. Alex Kirilloff is a guy who was a top prospect who generated a lot of buzz for a few years before reaching the bigs here in 2021. His 2021 numbers didn’t jump right out too much and has a lot of room for improvement. This is a guy who hit right around .350 with 20 HR down in High A ball in 2018. He very easily could be the future of the Minnesota Twins, and could help them turn their misfortunes around.
Cleveland Indians
Triston McKenzie, SP, (24)
This kid is absolutely ELECTRIC. 6’5, 165 lb, lanky frame, smooth rhythm, quick release, and great command – not much more to say. Oh, except that McKenzie just was 4 outs away from being perfect a few days ago and it was very fun to watch him just make the Tigers hitters look absolutely silly for 7.2 IP. Incredibly high ceiling for McKenzie.
Kansas City Royals
Salvador Perez, C, (31)
First-Ballot guy in my opinion here and there should be not question about it. World Series Champion, WS MVP, 5x Gold Glove Winner, 3x Silver Slugger, 7x All-Star. When it comes to the HOF I believe accolades play a bigger part than regular season numbers. So when it comes to a player like Salvy and what he’s accomplished he’s a no brainer for me. Salvy has been undoubtably the best catcher in the American League for nearly a decade.
Detroit Tigers
Casey Mize, SP, (24)
Former #1 pick back in 2018, this guys been absolutely dominant here in 2021 only 3 years removed from the draft. Mize has been a focal point of the Tigers being anywhere near relevant this year, leading their pitching staff with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Mize and Skubal should be headlining the Tigers rotation for years to come.
Los Angeles Angels
David Fletcher, 2B, (27)
David Fletcher is not a guy who’s going to show up on the sports center top 10 for hitting a ball 450. He’s just not that guy. But he’s an opposing teams nightmare in the fact that he gets on base, runs the bases well, and is an above average defender. If David Fletcher could some how bat right around .300 until he’s about 40 years old he should be a HOFer.
Seattle Mariners
Jarred Kelenic, OF, (22)
Now Kelenic is another guy who’s MLB numbers have been super deceiving so far but when you look at his raw baseball talents this guys ceiling may actually be the moon. 22 years old with 60’s all around on his 20-80 grading scale. Dude is legit with a sweet lefty swing.
Oakland Athletics
Sergio Romo, RP, (38)
Sergio Romo. Tell me honestly were any of you expecting that? Anyways I know when you think of Sergio Romo the A’s definitely are not the team you picture him in uniform with. But he’s with them as of now and that’s all that matters to me. But in all seriousness, Romo is a 3-time WS Champ with a Career 2.97 ERA. Dudes been an absolute baller his whole career. Some of the filthiest pitches you’ll see will come from Sergio Romo as he manipulates the baseball to come out of his hand and dance like a wiffleball.
Houston Astros
Kyle Tucker, RF, (24)
Quietly Kyle Tucker had been putting together one of the more successful seasons in the MLB this Season. His statline through 103 games included 25 2B, 22 HR, 71 RBI and a slash line of .272/.334/.519. Kyle Tucker is a young guy who can really swing the stick, also a plus defender as well.
Texas Rangers
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SS/3B/C, (26)
One of few jack-of-all trade guys who has the ability to do it all in the MLB. I think its incredible a guy who came up as a catcher was able to transition to short stop and win a gold glove a year later. Do I believe there is any real chance that Kiner-Falefa sniffs anywhere near the HOF? Maybe not, but I mean look at the Rangers current roster. Without including the likes of Jack Leiter, its nearly impossible to say anybody really has any potential higher than all-star level.
Atlanta Braves
Austin Riley, 3B, (24)
As much as I would love to say my beloved DansGOAT here, I’m going to give an unbiased take and go with one of the hottest players on this team in Austin Riley. The Braves have been on an absolute tear going 8-2 in their last 10 and Austin Riley has shown he has the ability to be one of the premier hitters in all of baseball this year. You should believe in this guy and in this team. I think they’re going to be taking home some hardware this October and future Octobers to come.
New York Mets
Marcus Stroman, SP, (30)
Stroman is another fan favorite, an American icon, and absolutely DOMINATED in the WBC. Stroman is a career 3.63 ERA guy but is the kind of pitcher who can be around for a while and seems as if he could get better with age. If Stro’ and the rest of the Mets were serious playoff contenders maybe I’d change my pick but for now, it ‘a American Legend Marcus Stroman.
Philadelphia Phillies
Alec Bohm, 3B, (24)
Bohm is to me a very interesting player. He’s not your typical power hitting third baseman but in his rookie season in 2020 he looked great as a low power-high average guy with 4 HRS and slashed .338/.400/.481. Don’t get me wrong, 2021 Bohm has definitely not been the same guy as we saw in the smaller window of the 2020 season, but I think he could have a great career in Philly with a team that seems to be trending up for the future
Miami Marlins
Trevor Rogers, SP, (23)
Lights out stuff. Sits a lot of guys down. 2021 has been the year of the Marlins pitching and Rogers has been leading the way with a 2.45 ERA in 110.0 IP with 129 SO through this point of the season. Out of the young up and coming Marlins core I believe Rogers may have the highest ceiling out of them all.
Washington Nationals
Juan Soto, RF, (22)
Alright I thought some of these other teams so far have been bad? Who else is on this Nationals team? Strasburg can’t stay on the field, Trea Turner, and Scherzer just jumped ship. This team was disgusting to choose from, and this was the obvious pick here with Soto having a great combo of youth and solid enough track record up to this point. Soto has put together a nice little campaign In 2021 with a .302 AVG and leading the league in Walks (88) and On-Base-Percentage (.437).
Chicago Cubs
Jason Heyward, RF, (32)
If you take a look at The J-hey Kids numbers from 2010-2012 you’d think he was going to be pretty good. Now from 2013-2021 offensively his numbers have been very subpar, but to his credit he is a 5-time Gold Glover, WS Champion, and a former NL All-Star. Yeah if you couldn’t tell, the Cubs didn’t really have a great choice here either.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, (24)
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a team that just seems like their going to be on a downward spiral for a little while and if they have a bright spot of any sorts, its only Ke’Bryan Hayes. Heres another guy for example who has just such a high ceiling and has the opportunity to be a young leader here In Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati Reds
Jesse Winker, LF, (28)
Happy Birthday Jesse Winker. Yes it is actually his birthday, and this dude is turning out to be quietly one of the top producers in baseball. With Winker leading the NL in 2B (32) and having a .307 AVG he’s really proven the baseball player winker wants himself to be known as. Votto was the obvious choice here, as he’s a lock for the Hall in my eyes, but I gotta choose Winker for this blog.
Milwaukee Brewers
Corbin Burnes, SP, (26)
Burnes, Woodruff, and Peralta have created the best starting rotation in all of baseball. Not one of the 3 has higher than a 2.26 ERA to this point. So this wasn’t too easy of a choice here but I went with Burnes just because I feel as if he’s the most dominant. Burnes has pitched insanely well and through 121 IP, he has 172 SO. Ridiculous numbers.
St. Louis Cardinals
Alex Reyes, CP, (26)
If you want to see one of the most electric fastballs in the whole game watch this kid throw. It took him a few years to really grow into himself and figure out his command and the ability to stay healthy but now that he’s done that, he is lights-out. I see Reyes being the top closer in all of baseball soon.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Madison Bumgarner, SP, (32)
He’s not a Diamondback in my eyes but he’s here now. MadBum helped lead the Giants to 3 World Series Championships, a WS MVP, an NLCS MVP, is a 2-time Silver Slugger as a Pitcher, and a 4 time All-Star. MadBum is a living legend and while no, he’s not what he was in San Fransisco, he’ll never be forgotten for his accomplishments there.
San Diego Padres
Eric Hosmer, 1B, (31)
One of the best Defensive First Basemen of my generation. His legacy includes 4 Gold Gloves, a World Series Ring, and a Silver Slugger. Career .278 hitter with strong defensive prowess. If the Padres could win a ring I’d put Hosmer as a HOF lock.
Colorado Rockies
German Marquez, SP, (26)
GET HIM OUT OF COLORADO. Marquez has so much potential to do serious damage to lineups but playing in every hitters favorite park doesn’t help his numbers, although he still carries a 3.77 ERA. I don’t know man, he’s doomed in Colorado.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Walker Buehler, SP, (26)
One of the most under-appreciated players in baseball. In a sense it kind of feels like no one mentions how dominant Walker Buehler is, but at the same time we all know his dominance. The dude is sick, leading the league with a 2.09 ERA, and already has a World Series ring under his belt. With the Dodgers empire still intact, expect Buehler to lead the ship.
San Fransisco Giants
Brandon Crawford, SS, (34)
There is a lot of World Series experience on this roster with the addition of Kris Bryant. But Brandon Crawford: if he retired before this season started he would’ve been known for having a good career. But here comes 2021 where Crawford decides he’s going to get a 2nd chance at being 24 again and is putting together the best year of his career. On pace for a career high in HR, he already has beaten his career high in SB (9), and AVG (.306). I think Brandon Crawford has found the Fountain of Youth that will lead him to Cooperstown.
The Three Spot 