The Baseball Hall of Fame welcomed its Class of 2026 during a ceremony marked by reflections on the influences that shaped the inductees' careers both on and off the field. Among those inducted were Carlos Beltrán, Jeff Kent, and Andruw Jones, each of whom highlighted personal stories and acknowledged the support systems that helped them reach baseball’s highest honor.

Carlos Beltrán, born in Manati, Puerto Rico, credited his parents for instilling the work ethic that defined his career. His father, Wilfredo Beltrán, earned perfect attendance awards for 35 consecutive years at a pharmaceutical company, while his mother, Carmen Beltrán, supported his upbringing as a homemaker. Beyond his accomplishments as a player, Beltrán has been active in promoting Puerto Rican youth and culture. He also expressed admiration for fellow Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny, recognizing the musician’s role in representing and promoting the island on a global stage.

Jeff Kent reflected on a pivotal moment from his youth in Huntington Beach, California, when his father, Alan Kent—a local police officer—offered a deal that changed his trajectory. At 16, Kent was racing motorcycles but agreed to shift focus to academics and baseball in exchange for a 1985 Toyota 4x4 pickup truck. That truck remains with Kent as a symbol of his commitment and the transformative power of simple encouragement. Kent secured a college baseball scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley, and went on to drive in 1,518 runs during his 17-year major league career, including the final four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Reflecting on motivation, Kent shared an anecdote about a talk attributed to longtime Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, emphasizing the value of runs batted in as key to success.

Andruw Jones became the first native of Curaçao to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. A five-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner, Jones acknowledged the challenges of reaching the major leagues from his small island, more than 2,000 miles away from the United States. He paid tribute to fellow Curaçao native Hensley Meulens, who was the first from the island to play in the majors and served as a trailblazer before Jones’ own debut with the Atlanta Braves in 1996. Jones described the day as a union between Cooperstown and Curaçao, expressing pride in representing his homeland on baseball’s grandest stage.

The induction ceremony, held at the Clark Sports Center, was attended by a record gathering of 60 Hall of Famers. Among the notable attendees was Sandy Koufax, the Dodgers legend inducted in 1972 and the longest-tenured member present. Rod Carew, former star of the Minnesota Twins and Anaheim Angels, who turned 80 this year, also attended with assistance from David Ortiz, reflecting the deep respect and camaraderie shared by the baseball community during the event.