Ilychs Morales
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icho1977.bsky.social
Ilychs Morales
@icho1977.bsky.social
HOF Ballot Tracker. Lawyer. Baseball Writer.
Reposted by Ilychs Morales
An annual Hall of Fame voting ritual for me is to join the glorious Almost Cooperstown podcast and explain my thinking (or lack thereof). Thanks to hosts Mark and Gordon! @almostcoop.bsky.social
youtu.be/fgDmvQ0LFrI
Reviewing HOF votes with BBWAA voter and The Athletic's Daniel Brown - Ep. 645
YouTube video by Almost Cooperstown
youtu.be
January 27, 2026 at 12:45 AM
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Wrapping up my 2026 Hall of Fame election coverage with a look at the next 5 upcoming classes and the dynamics in play. This time around, I audited my admittedly-spotty performance in this endeavor going back to 2019 (my first one at @fangraphs.com; began doing this iat SI.com in 2014)
January 26, 2026 at 5:18 PM
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New from me:

I answered your Hall of Fame questions

Pettitte vs Bonds/Clemens
Hamels vs Felix
Rollins vs Abreu
Schilling, Whitaker & 3 more players we've whiffed on
The All One-Vote-for-the-HOF team

And lots more!
www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
January 26, 2026 at 2:35 PM
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Peering Into the Crystal Ball: The Next Five Years of BBWAA Hall of Fame Elections blogs.fangraphs.com/peering-into...
Peering Into the Crystal Ball: The Next Five Years of BBWAA Hall of Fame Elections
As the 2026 election cycle ends, here’s a look at what the next half-decade portends.
blogs.fangraphs.com
January 26, 2026 at 5:15 PM
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Historically Hall of Fame voters have relied on certain statistical benchmarks, but lately that's started to change, and next winter's election could redefine what it takes to reach Cooperstown.

www.bostonherald.com/2026/01/25/m...
MLB notes: Why Buster Posey could herald new era of Hall of Fame voting
Historically Hall of Fame voters have relied on certain statistical benchmarks, but lately that’s started to change, and next winter’s election could redefine what it takes to reach Coo…
www.bostonherald.com
January 25, 2026 at 12:54 PM
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Every year, @noahtrister.bsky.social is the only reporter who asks to chat with me *after* the results are announced. Here's his look ahead to the 2027 cycle: apnews.com/article/hall...
Buster Posey takes center stage among the newcomers for next year's Hall of Fame ballot
Buster Posey is expected to be the top newcomer on baseball's 2027 Hall of Fame ballot. There are no first-ballot inductees this year after the results were announced Tuesday night.
apnews.com
January 21, 2026 at 2:47 PM
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It wasn't the greatest Hall of Fame ballot, but Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones join Jeff Kent in the Class of 2026 to be inducted at Cooperstown this summer. My latest column for @forbes.com
Carlos Beltran. Andruw Jones Latest Additions To Baseball Hall Of Fame
Out of slim cast of characters on the ballot, Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones were the only players to survive joining the Hall Class of 2026.
bit.ly
January 21, 2026 at 6:29 AM
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My Hall of Fame ballot
@notmrtibbs.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:02 AM
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In a Hall of Fame vote centered around center fielders, why Torii Hunter made my ballot
triblive.com/sports/in-a-...
(Via TribLive)
In a Hall of Fame vote centered around center fielders, why Torii Hunter made my ballot
Call me a world-class procrastinator, if you will, or simply someone who performs better under deadline pressure, but I wait until the final day allowed to mail my Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. Baseba...
triblive.com
January 21, 2026 at 1:52 AM
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Carlos Beltran on trying not to think too much about his HOF chance the last few weeks: "Let me tell you, my wife Jessica, she spent hours and time trying to basically stay in contact with the Hall of Fame baseball tracker." CC: @notmrtibbs.com @tonycal.bsky.social @shutthedore.bsky.social
January 21, 2026 at 12:39 AM
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My @baseballhall 2026 ballot.
January 21, 2026 at 12:43 AM
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Welcome to Cooperstown, Carlos Beltrán!

baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/beltran-carlos
January 20, 2026 at 11:20 PM
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Welcome to Cooperstown, Andruw Jones!

baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/jones-andruw
January 20, 2026 at 11:21 PM
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BBWAA elects Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones to baseball's Hall of Fame.

I had both players on my ballot. (Ballots that elected to go public will be revealed on Feb. 3.)
January 20, 2026 at 11:31 PM
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We finish at 245 pre-results ballots. Thank you for following!
January 20, 2026 at 11:09 PM
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For posterity, here are my final 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame projections. Thanks as ever to @notmrtibbs.com, @shutthedore.bsky.social, and @tonycal.bsky.social for all their hard work. Hall of Fame season wouldn’t really exist without them!
January 20, 2026 at 10:51 PM
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Update at 243 ballots. Less than a half hour to go. We think we'll have our usual final two ballots from SNY right at the top of the hour. Anything else...?
January 20, 2026 at 10:34 PM
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NEW: Baseball's Hall of Fame Class of '26 is to be announced soon. Think it'll be small. Predict only Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones get in. My official ballot -- always public:
January 20, 2026 at 10:02 PM
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Two hours to go, so time to say thank you to the two guys who make this ballot tracking project possible: @shutthedore.bsky.social and @tonycal.bsky.social. I could not and would not want to do this without them. Thanks for all your continued excellent work, Adam and Anthony!
January 20, 2026 at 9:00 PM
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It's a weird feeling, measuring time in decades.

My ballot for the @baseballhall.org Class of 2026 marks a full decade of having the honor/privilege of voting for the Hall. Never, ever something I'll take for granted. My ballot column, on @optaanalyst.optajoe.com

theanalyst.com/articles/bas...
January 20, 2026 at 8:28 PM
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After 239 ballots (and perhaps the busiest 45 minutes in Tracker history):
January 20, 2026 at 6:58 PM
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Here’s my 2026 Hall of Fame ballot. I continue to think starting pitchers haven’t received enough recognition in recent years.
January 20, 2026 at 6:23 PM
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Andy Pettitte could land around 50 percent today, with two more shots on the ballot. Never thought I'd see it.
www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/...
January 20, 2026 at 6:23 PM