Part 5/9:
Dustin Pedroia, much like David Wright from last year's ballot, faces a tough competition after injuries impeded what could have been a Hall-of-Fame trajectory. Despite his impressive peak and contributions to championship-winning Red Sox teams, the lack of traditional counting stats will challenge his candidacy.
Returning Players
Among returning candidates, Billy Wagner has gained traction over the last decade, finishing last year with over 73% of the vote, close to the 75% requirement for induction. His tenure as a premier reliever and the advancements in sabermetric evaluations suggest that he might finally gain the recognition he deserves.