Scott Rolen’s best chance at Cooperstown is sooner than you think

St. Louis Cardinals great Scott Rolen’s best chance at Cooperstown could come as soon as the next round of voting, in part due to the lack of big names on the ballot.

A year without a player getting elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame is just depressing, so to avoid that fate, why not just go with Rolen?

Rolen’s profile and Hall-of-Fame resume has risen ever so slowly the last few years, with the third baseman finishing around the 63 percent mark this year. That’s just a few votes short of equaling Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, who both fall off the ballot due to their tenth year of eligibility.

Rolen first appeared on the ballot in 2018, so he’s got plenty of time left. But 2023 looks like he best chance yet. He better not waste it.

Who will make the 2023 MLB Hall of Fame?

Rolen was up over 10 percent from last year’s voting, from 52.9 percent to 63.2 percent of all BBWAA voters. He entered the ballot at just 10.2 percent back in 2018.

The former Phillies, Cardinals and Reds great made seven All-Star teams and won eight Gold Gloves. He’s one of the best defensive players at his position ever, had over 2,000 hits and 300 career home runs. Those offensive numbers could’ve been even higher were it not for injury concerns at the back-end of his career.

Will Scott Rolen, Carlos Beltran get into MLB Hall of Fame?

Carlos Beltran and Francisco Rodriguez are the biggest names to join the overall pool of players eligible next season. Neither really stick out as first ballot selections, and Beltran’s name has been dragged through the mud a bit due to the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal.

Rolen makes a lot of sense, given his steady rise and the number of big names dropping off the ballot this season, including Sammy Sosa, Bonds and Clemens. There is no David Ortiz on next year’s ballot.

If Rolen wants in, baseball fans better start campaigning now.