It hasn’t been a great year for pitchers looking to enter the Hall of Fame. Two out of four starters considered shoe-ins have yet to play a single MLB game, and one may not even sign, while another one, with momentum on his side, was delayed until June 19 due to an elbow injury. Only one Cy Young Award winner from the last decade has completed a full season, with four others recovering from Tommy John surgery. Even the top relievers have been inconsistent, with one not even serving as the regular closer for his team.
With the Hall of Fame Induction Weekend having recently passed, it’s a good time to consider which active players are on the path to Hall of Fame status. However, the outlook for starting pitchers, in particular, is less optimistic compared to a year ago. Despite the current dominance of pitching in the game, longevity is becoming a challenge for pitchers.
While there are tools like S-JAWS to evaluate pitchers and how the Hall voters might adjust their standards, there are no clear answers. Lowering the standards for recent starters could create challenges in honoring pitchers from past eras with similar achievements. With limited spots on the ballot and other considerations, catching up with all deserving candidates seems unlikely.
