Overview
- The Baseball Hall of Fame formally inducted Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones and Jeff Kent in Cooperstown on Sunday as the Class of 2026.
- Jeff Kent delivered an emotional speech that paid tribute to the late Ryne Sandberg and described installing his plaque with his parents at his side.
- Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones used post-induction events to reflect on career milestones, with Jones noted as the first inductee from Curaçao and Beltrán recalling his long journey from Puerto Rico.
- All three emphasized off-field work to develop young players and students, including Beltrán’s baseball academy and high school in Puerto Rico, Jones’s education placements for Curaçao youth, and Kent’s long-running scholarships at UC Berkeley.
- The class renews Hall conversations about measuring peak performance and adds notable linkages to past postseasons, such as the 2004 NLCS that now includes multiple Hall members.