Five players who could lock in their Hall of Fame resume in 2020

Joey Votto

In another era, Joey Votto probably wouldn’t be getting much consideration. The traditional numbers just aren’t there: 284 career home runs, 944 RBIs, 1,866 hits, and 1,009 runs scored. At a position (first base) that has a high offensive standard, those numbers don’t hold up when compared with the all-time greats.

Still, the WAR stat loves him. At 36 years old, he currently boasts a 60.2 WAR. Among first basemen, that ranks 20th all-time, and the average Hall of Famer at the position is at 66.9 WAR. That compares favorably with Harmon Killebrew, but he still has to pass the likes of Todd Helton and Keith Hernandez, who have not made it.

So, it appears that Votto still has some work to do, but he could take a giant step forward if he can recover from a subpar 2019 season and help lead the rising Cincinnati Reds into contention. He’s already finished in the top ten in NL MVP voting six times, including winning it in 2010. One reason he gets so much love is his patience at the plate. In an era when walks have become so valued, he’s led the league in free passes five times and in OBP seven times.

Those who like the new stats likely already believe that Votto has a strong case. However, given the lack of traditional numbers, Votto probably needs two more high-quality seasons (3 to 4 WAR) to have a serious shot. That makes the 2020 season critical in his quest.