The 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released on Monday, and it features multiple former Nationals who left a big impact both on the franchise and the league as a whole.
Among this year’s grouping is left-handed pitcher Gio González, the leader among southpaws for strikeouts in franchise history, and fourth overall. Making the second-most starts in a Nationals uniform since the team moved to Washington, González was with the Nationals from the 2012 season until he was traded to the Brewers late in August of 2018. In his first year with Washington, the Warren Spahn award winner and Cy Young finalist held a 2.89 ERA and led the league in wins with 21. In the process, González made two All-Star teams.
Another Nationals legend on the ballot is Howie Kendrick, who earned his place in franchise history for his performance in the 2019 playoffs. Acquired from the Phillies in 2017, Kendrick finished his career in the nation’s capital after the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Having arguably his best season in the championship campaign, the 2019 NLCS MVP was also a massive part of the clubhouse’s energy that propelled them to the next level late in that season.
Daniel Murphy rounds out the class of former Nationals. Signed in January before the 2016 season, Murphy proved to be a great signing as he finished with averages higher than .300 in each year he spent with Washington. The 2016 NL MVP runner-up hit 41 home runs in two-and-a-half years wearing the Curly-W, earning back-to-back Silver Sluggers in the process.
Making it into Cooperstown is no easy task, even after making it to the ballot. To be eligible, players must have been retired for five years, and can only make the ballot if they played 10 years in the big leagues. Voters can back anywhere from 0-10 candidates. To stay as an option to voters from year-to-year, the player must receive at least 5% of the vote. 75% gets one inducted.
The other players on this ballot will be Bobby Abreu, Carlos Beltrán, Ryan Braun, Mark Buehrle, Shin-Soo Choo, Edwin Encarnación, Alex Gordon, Cole Hamels, Félix Hernández, Torii Hunter, Andruw Jones, Matt Kemp, Nick Markakis, Dustin Pedroia, Hunter Pence, Andy Pettitte, Rick Porcello, Manny Ramírez, Álex Rodríguez, Francisco Rodríguez, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Omar Vizquel, and David Wright.
Stay tuned to The Nats Report for more on the story as time draws closer January 20, when the results of this year’s election will be announced.