Daniel Murphy Misses Hall of Fame Induction as 11 Players Dropped from 2026 Ballot

Only two players - Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones - earned induction through BBWAA voting this year.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 7:46am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a baseball player in motion, with their form broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, conveying the complex and subjective nature of Hall of Fame selection.The Hall of Fame's exclusion of Daniel Murphy and other notable players highlights the subjectivity and challenges of the induction process.Cooperstown Today

In a surprising turn of events, former New York Mets star Daniel Murphy failed to receive any votes in his first year of eligibility for the Baseball Hall of Fame, resulting in his removal from the 2026 ballot. Meanwhile, only two players - center field legends Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones - successfully secured their spots in the Hall's 2026 class through the BBWAA voting process.

Why it matters

Murphy's Hall of Fame snub is a disappointment for Mets fans, as the three-time All-Star was a key part of the team's 2015 World Series run. His exclusion highlights the challenges some players face in gaining Hall of Fame induction, even with impressive career statistics.

The details

During his 12-year MLB career, Murphy made three All-Star teams and finished with a .296 batting average, .341 on-base percentage, and .455 slugging percentage. However, he failed to receive any votes from BBWAA members in his first year on the ballot, resulting in his immediate removal. Other notable players like former NL MVP Ryan Braun, six-time All-Star Edwin Encarnación, and two-time All-Star Gio González also fell off the ballot after just one year.

  • The 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame class was announced on April 11, 2026.

The players

Daniel Murphy

A three-time MLB All-Star who played for the New York Mets from 2008 to 2015, known for his clutch hitting and key role in the team's 2015 World Series run.

Carlos Beltran

A nine-time MLB All-Star and center field legend who was elected to the Hall of Fame in the 2026 class.

Andruw Jones

A 10-time Gold Glove winner and five-time MLB All-Star center fielder who was also elected to the Hall of Fame in the 2026 class.

Ryan Braun

A former National League MVP and six-time MLB All-Star who failed to gain enough votes for Hall of Fame induction in his first year of eligibility.

Edwin Encarnación

A six-time MLB All-Star and one of 11 players who fell off the 2026 Hall of Fame ballot after just one year.

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What’s next

Players who fail to receive 5% of the vote in their first year of Hall of Fame eligibility are removed from the BBWAA ballot, but can still be considered by the museum's Era Committees in the future.

The takeaway

Daniel Murphy's Hall of Fame snub is a reminder that even accomplished players can struggle to gain induction, underscoring the challenges and subjectivity of the voting process. However, the Era Committees provide a potential path forward for players like Murphy who narrowly miss out on BBWAA election.