This Is the Moment You've Been Waiting For...

Greetings, baseball nerds! The most exciting moment has finally arrived: the announcement of the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame Class. After much anticipation, the players who will be inducted this summer are the following players:

Ichiro, Billy Wagner, and CC Sabathia

Here are my thoughts about each soon-to-be inductees:

Ichiro: Simply known by just his first name, there will always be one Ichiro. The now 51-year-old will be heading to Cooperstown as a first-ballot inductee. Him being selected wasn't much of a surprise. Ichiro's on-field presence was everything and his talent spoke for itself. Plus, his amazing batting stance stood out and was noticed by his loyal and devoted fans. He may have not won a World Series title, but being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame will be like a championship to him. He was and will always be one of the most adored players that has ever played the game. It's worth noting that Ichiro is the first Asian-born player to be selected to the Hall. I'll say this again: there will always be one Ichiro.

Billy Wagner: In his 10th and final year of eligibility, the now 53-year-old Wagner becomes the ninth closer to punch his ticket to Cooperstown. He spent 16 remarkable seasons with five different teams. They were the Astros, Phillies, Mets, Red Sox, and Braves. After retiring in 2010, Wagner concluded his career with 422 saves and 1,196 strikeouts. He was also a seven-time All-Star. They say that the third time is the charm. However, for Billy Wagner, the 10th attempt had finally worked in his favor.

CC Sabathia: From 2001-2019, Sabathia was one of the most dominant and well-respected starting pitchers. The now 44-year-old will be inducted into Cooperstown, just like Ichiro, as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He's the first pitcher to accomplish this feat since Mariano Rivera and the late Roy Halladay in 2019. His stats and honors include 3,093 strikeouts, 251 wins, a Cy Young Award he won with Cleveland in 2007, and a World Series title he won with the Yankees in 2009.

These three outstanding players will also join Classic Era Committee electees Dave Parker and Dick Allen to complete the Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

The Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on July 27.

Seeing Alex Rodriguez not being selected to the Hall puts a smile on my face. The fact that he was on the ballot in the first place was baffling and infuriating. No one should celebrate or praise someone who took performance enhancing drugs, whether if it was for personal or professional gain. I prefer players who had successful careers without cheating. The aforementioned players selected for the 2025 Hall of Fame Class are examples of class, talent, and integrity. Their hard work should be recognized and will be remembered as legends. Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa should take notes.

What did you think of these inductees becoming part of the 2025 Hall of Fame Class? Which candidates did you think got snubbed? Also, which current, retired, or deceased players would you like to see inducted into the Hall in the near future? Let me know in the comments and please give this story a like. Also, please follow me on my socials and subscribe to my page on here. Finally, if you loved this story or any others I've written, please kindly leave a one-off tip, which you can find at end of this story. Your tips will support creators like me and we'll publish more stories.