The National Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was officially finalized on Tuesday as Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones got elected through the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s vote alongside Jeff Kent, who already made the cut in December thanks to the Contemporary Era Committee vote.
Astros Fans’ Reaction to Carlos Beltrán Getting into Cooperstown
While Kent, a former Astros All-Star on the 2004 World Series team, finally reached Cooperstown, the name that caught most of the attention in Houston was Carlos Beltrán for several reasons.
Former Astro to the Hall
While there is no doubt for Beltrán’s inclusion in the Hall of Fame simply based on his on-field play, his story gets more complicated than that. Statistically, his HOF selection should have been smooth. A 20-year career with 435 home runs, 1,587 RBI, 2,725 hits, 312 stolen bases, and a career OPS of .837. That was not the case.
The Astros originally acquired Beltrán in a famous 2004 trade deadline deal from the Kansas City Royals, where the superstar center fielder helped lead Houston to their third NLCS appearance in franchise history. Beltrán had a historic 2004 postseason where he hit for a .435 average and 1.557 OPS. He blasted eight home runs and drove in 14 runs in 12 games.
Although the Manati, Puerto Rico native did want to stay in Houston, Beltrán signed a massive seven-year, $119 million deal with the New York Mets, the biggest in franchise history at the time.
After bouncing around the league, Beltrán decided to return to Houston in 2017 and spent the last year of his career with a young, talented Astros team on the rise. Houston went on to win its first World Series in franchise history, and Beltrán walked out with his first ring as well. While he didn’t contribute much on the field with a -0.8 WAR and .666 OPS, along with 14 home runs and 51 RBI, his veteran leadership mattered. That veteran presence was seen in a different light later.
Beltrán is hall of fame bound!
Big congratulations to Carlos Beltrán on his 2026 election to the @baseballhall! pic.twitter.com/sYMiKnmO7z
— Houston Astros (@astros) January 20, 2026
The Leader of a Scandal
Everything seemed great with Carlos Beltrán’s time with the Astros, but more than two years later, the sign-stealing scandal was publicized. The Astros used a system of a video camera to steal their opponents’ pitch signs in 2017 and relay that to the hitter via a trash can bang in the dugout during the at-bat. The report found that the leader and founder of this system was, in fact, Beltrán.
The Athletic report showed how strongly Beltrán implemented the scheme and how he refused to stop even when other players, such as Brian McCann, wanted to call it off. It was through his encouragement and support of the rule-breaking system that the Astros kept on going with it. Young stars found it difficult to oppose a veteran of his stature.
Whether this system was effective or not in the postseason remains unclear, but the fact is that he led and encouraged the cheating in 2017.
This induction sparked debate over how voters view the 2017 season. After all, the sign-stealing scandal ultimately did not affect Beltrán’s significant playing career when he was an impactful player. The cheating was in the last year of his career, when he was 40, and did not affect 99% of his numbers. That shows the difference with the steroid and PED users, such as Barry Bonds, who remain excluded.
What Houston Astros Fans Think
Astros fan reaction was mixed. Beltrán doesn’t have the best name in Houston now, given that he was the main reason why the team installed the trash can banging in 2017. However, his 2004 season with the Astros was successful with a .926 OPS in 90 regular-season games, along with 23 home runs and 53 RBI.
He initiated the cheating scandal Astros fans still deal with, he belongs in the hall of shame. And his buddy Cora.
If the hall is letting cheaters in might as well allow the roid guys in.
— True Texan (@bidenharrissuck) January 20, 2026
While some were happy for Beltrán and reminisced about his 2004 days with the team, others did not appreciate what he did in 2017. A lot of comments were hopeful after his induction due to how the voters might view other key players from the 2017 team. In particular, Jose Altuve and his likely Hall of Fame bid.
This much has been clear to those who understand the reality of that season: Altuve wanted no role and did not participate. He disliked the system. It took Beltrán four years of eligibility to make it into the Hall. Since 2023, his votes have increased to 84% of the vote in 2026. Given time healing his deeds, it looks more possible that Altuve can make it, especially since he didn’t want the system like Beltrán.
I gather altuve will enter unanimously then.
— Luis Tineo (@cacaojazz) January 20, 2026
Altuve’s Potential Hall of Fame Bid
The amount of hate Altuve has received has been completely disproportionate to what he did in 2017. If Beltrán, the player who instilled the system, eventually made it, Altuve might have a real chance of getting in. It’s something he 100% deserves given his career achievements and Hall of Fame-worthy numbers. Houston fans were happy to know Beltrán got in, so their hero Altuve can too down the road. There was a concern with Astros faithful that arguably their greatest player in franchise history might not get voted in due to his national perception, but this class likely proved that wrong.
By the time Altuve is eligible, 2017 would be way in the past. While he played no role, any resentment voters have toward anyone on the team may not play as big a factor, especially given the kind of player Altuve was. He remains an incredible player on and off the field who is one of the greatest second basemen of this generation.
Main Photo Credit: © Thomas B. Shea-Imagn Images