Who are the next Phillies to become Hall of Fame eligible?

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America will announce the results of their 2020 Hall of Fame balloting this week, revealing the fate of former Philadelphia Phillies Bobby Abreu, Cliff Lee, Scott Rolen, Curt Schilling and Billy Wagner on this year’s ballot.

While it appears that Schilling may be inducted and Lee could get below 5.0 percent of the vote, the rest will continue to appear on the ballot going forward. They will be joined by some fellow Phillies alumni in the next several years as well.

The Phillies have former players eligible to be placed on the next four Hall of Fame ballots. Any player who played 10 seasons in the major leagues that has been retired for five seasons is eligible, although not all who meet the criteria are put on the ballot. Eight former Phillies can make their debut on the ballot from 2021-2024.

2021: A.J. Burnett and Shane Victorino

Burnett pitched for the Phillies in the 2014 season but most of his accomplishments came in other uniforms. He pitched a no-hitter for the Florida Marlins in 2001, led the American League in strikeouts for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2008, was a prominent member of the 2009 World Series champion New York Yankees and was an All-Star in his final season in 2015 as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Burnett had a career ERA of 3.99.

Victorino was the starting center fielder as the Phillies won the 2008 World Series before winning another for the Boston Red Sox in 2013. He is the owner of two postseason grand slams, hitting one in each of his playoff runs that led to a World Series championship. Victorino was a two-time All-Star and won four Gold Glove Awards.

2022: Ryan Howard, Jonathan Papelbon and Jimmy Rollins

Howard burst on the scene in 2005, winning National League Rookie of the Year. He followed that season up with a 58-home run, National League MVP-winning 2006 campaign. Howard was the starting first baseman for the 2008 World Series champion Phillies. He was a three-time All-Star and led the National League in home runs in 2006 and 2008.

Papelbon had already closed out the 2007 World Series clincher for the Red Sox when he signed with the Phillies before the 2012 season. Although he was never able to win another World Series with the team, he did pitch quite well after coming to Philadelphia. Papelbon became the franchise leader in saves in 2015, an accomplishment he holds for the Red Sox as well. He finished his career as a six-time All-Star with 368 saves, a mark that is good for ninth in MLB history.

Rollins declared the Phillies were “the team to beat” ahead of the 2007 season and backed it up with a National League MVP and a National League East division championship. The shortstop then helped the Phillies win their second World Series in 2008. Rollins was a four-time Gold Glove Award winner and became the franchise leader in hits in 2014.

2023: Jayson Werth

Werth’s emergence is a huge part of what made 2008 successful for the Phillies. That season was the first of a three-season stretch that the outfielder averaged 4.9 fWAR for the team. Werth became an All-Star for the only time in his career in 2009. He signed with the Washington Nationals prior to the 2011 season and has since been named to the team’s Ring of Honor.

2024: José Bautista and Chase Utley

Bautista posted an OPS of .870 in 27 games for the Phillies at the end of 2018 (who could ever forget?). But he is obviously most remembered for his time in Toronto, where he came out of nowhere in 2010 and turned himself into one of the best power hitters in baseball. Bautista hit a major league-leading 54 home runs that 2010 season after hitting only 59 in his first six seasons. He became a three-time Silver Slugger Award winner and led the majors in home runs twice. Baustista also had one of the most iconic postseason moments in recent memory with his go-ahead home run and epic bat flip in Game 5 of the 2015 American League Division Series.

Utley helped clinch the 2008 World Series with his pump fake to first and throw to home in Game 5 that prevented Jason Bartlett from scoring to give the Tampa Bay Rays the lead. Utley would later find more Fall Classic success, tying Reggie Jackson’s World Series record after hitting five home runs in 2009 as the Phillies fell to the Yankees. Despite battling many injuries in his career, he was still one of the most successful second baseman in recent history. Utley was a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner with a career fWAR of 62.9.

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