Minnesota Twins: Breaking down the Twins on Upcoming HOF Ballots

The Minnesota Twins have had six players appear on the Hall of Fame ballot over the past two years, but with the 2022 voting process in the rearview mirror, only one of those players remains in Torii Hunter.

While it’s no surprise that Michael Cuddyer, Latroy Hawkins, Justin Morneau, and A.J. Pierzynski didn’t last long, it’s also not a total stunner that Joe Nathan fell off the ballot after one year as well (though he probably should have gotten a second year).

What Minnesota Twins could we see on the Hall of Fame ballot in the next four years?

With Hunter entering his third year of eligibility in 2023, we thought it best to look at the next five years and consider what other potential players Minnesota Twins fans could see landing on the ballot as well as what their odds of staying on the ballot are. Let’s start things off with the ballot for next year.

Potential Minnesota Twins on the Ballot in 2023: Torii Hunter, J.J. Hardy, R.A. Dickey, and Glen Perkins

2022 was a big year for the Hall of Fame ballot, as several candidates exhausted their tenth year of eligibility. Add on the fact that Carlos Beltran is the only first-year ballot player with a real shot at the hall, and this is good news for players on the ballot of 2023.

Scott Rolen will likely be the closest to making it, while Todd Helton, Billy Wagner, Andruw Jones, and Alex Rodriguez should all see a big boost. Unfortunately, this benefit won’t really be felt by the Twins entering the ballot here.

R.A. Dickey will probably make the ballot, but J.J. Hardy and Glen Perkins are far from locks. Regardless of if they make it, none of them would likely receive a vote. Torii Hunter on the other hand should see a significant boost, maybe even reaching 10% of the vote and ensuring he stays on the ballot for another year.

Prediction: Rolen is the sole Hall of Famer, Hunter remains, and Dickey, Hardy, and Perkins don’t receive a vote.

Potential Minnesota Twins on the Ballot in 2025: Joe Mauer, Bartolo Colon, and Francisco Liriano

2025 could be one of the largest Hall of Fame classes in recent memory. It’ll be Billy Wagner’s final year on the ballot and Andruw Jones’ eighth, and I think the writers push both through to get them in.

Of the 2024 guys, Joe Mauer’s numbers jump the most as the writers view him as a catcher and there is a strong public push. C.C. Sabathia and Ichiro both make it on the first ballot. Bartolo Colon drops a bit, but hangs above the five percent.

The logjam of very good but maybe not Hall of Fame 2024 players sees their numbers go up or drop slightly. Chase Utley, David Wright, and Matt Holliday go up while Jose Reyes, Adrian Gonzalez, and Jose Bautista drop a bit.

Francisco Liriano doesn’t make the ballot because of his lack of sustained success and simply too many better options here, but a clearing out class of Billy Wagner, Andruw Jones, C.C. Sabathia, and Ichiro and a nice boost offer up optimism that 2026 could be Joe’s year.

Prediction: Wagner, Jones, Sabathia, and Ichiro enter the Hall of Fame while Mauer gets a step closer. Liriano doesn’t make the ballot.