Ichiro Leads 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame Class Predictions

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — The Baseball Hall of Fame will announce its 2025 inductees Tuesday evening, with Ichiro Suzuki expected to headline the class. The former Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees outfielder is tracking at 100% on publicly revealed ballots, making him a near-certainty for induction.

Ichiro, a 10-time Gold Glove winner and 2001 American League MVP, is poised to join Mariano Rivera as one of the few unanimous selections in Hall of Fame history. “He’ll be over 99% and, hey, maybe he will join Mariano Rivera as the only unanimous inductees,” said a baseball analyst familiar with the voting trends.

Joining Ichiro could be CC Sabathia, the former Cleveland Indians and Yankees pitcher, who has appeared on 93.2% of public ballots. However, private ballots often skew more conservative, potentially lowering Sabathia’s final percentage. “I do not think he’s going to lose more than 18%, meaning I am predicting CC joins Ichiro,” the analyst added.

Billy Wagner, in his 10th and final year on the ballot, is also a strong contender. The former Houston Astros and New York Mets closer received 73.8% of the vote last year and is currently tracking at 84.7%. “Many candidates who come close to induction see a final year bump,” the analyst noted, suggesting Wagner could secure the necessary votes for enshrinement.

Dick Allen and Dave Parker, both previously selected by the Veterans Committee, will also be inducted posthumously. The 2025 class is expected to feature four living Hall of Famers and one posthumous induction, creating a memorable ceremony in Cooperstown.

Other notable candidates on the ballot include Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones, who are predicted to gain induction in future years. “If anyone else gets hot enough to join Jones in 2027, I’ll say it’s Utley,” the analyst concluded, referencing former Philadelphia Phillies star Chase Utley.