Ex-Toronto Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion could be headed to Cooperstown
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Former Toronto Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion is among 12 new players on 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot.
The former Blue Jays slugger and current hitting instructor was among the newcomers on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released Monday.
Encarnacion, 42, was a three-time all-star over eight seasons with the Blue Jays, where he enjoyed by far the most success of his 16-year career.
The Dominican Republic native launched 239 of his 424 career home runs with Toronto, becoming famous for his parrot celebration and adding an iconic walk-off home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the 2016 wild-card game.
For his career, the first baseman carried a .260 batting average and .350 on-base percentage with 1,261 RBIs, including a league-leading 127 for the 2016 Blue Jays, over 1,960 games.
First time eligible players on the ballot join 15 holdovers
Cole Hamels, Ryan Braun, Matt Kemp, Howie Kendrick, Daniel Murphy and Rick Porcello also are among the first-time eligibles, joined by Shin-Soo Choo, Gio González, Alex Gordon, Nick Markakis and Hunter Pence.
JUST IN: the new ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2026!
12 first-time candidates join 15 holdovers. A player must receive 75% of votes from the BBWAA for election. Results will be announced Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026.
12 first-time candidates join 15 holdovers. A player must receive 75% of votes from the BBWAA for election. Results will be announced Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026.
BBWAA members with 10 or more consecutive years of membership are eligible to vote.
Ballots must be postmarked by Dec. 31 and results will be announced Jan. 20.
Anyone elected will be inducted on July 26 along with anyone chosen Dec. 7 by the hall's contemporary baseball era committee ballot considering eight players whose greatest contributions to the sport were from 1980 on.
Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy are being considered by the contemporary era committee along with Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela.
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