Dodgers News: Former Dodger Andruw Jones Elected to Hall of Fame
A long-awaited honor for one of baseball’s greatest defensive outfielders
LOS ANGELES, CA—As the 2026 Major League Baseball offseason approaches its final weeks, the National Baseball Hall of Fame revealed its newest inductees for the class of 2026, including former Dodgers outfielder Andruw Jones.
After nine years on the Hall of Fame ballot, Jones, 48, was finally elected with the honor and was one of the most polished outfielders in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Jones burst onto the baseball scene in 1996 when, at just 19 years old, he clobbered two home runs in the World Series against the New York Yankees, and is still the youngest player ever to hit a home run in the Fall Classic.
Jones achieved one of the most remarkable peaks in baseball history. He hit 368 home runs and posted a batting line of .263/.342/.497 from his debut through his age-30 season, all while playing for the Atlanta Braves, who led the National League during his career.
However, many players recall Jones primarily for his defense, where he was the top defensive player in Major League Baseball for over a decade.
Initially playing mostly right field in his rookie season, he later moved to center field, which sparked his career’s momentum. He earned his first of ten consecutive Gold Glove Awards in 1998.
In 2008, at age 31, the Dodgers signed him to a two-year contract. He played 75 games and posted a batting line of .158/.256/.249. His 35 OPS+ was among the lowest in Dodgers history during the live ball era, based on at least 200 plate appearances.
That performance prompted Los Angeles to move on the following year, after which Jones played for the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and eventually finished his career with the New York Yankees.
Jones concluded his 17-year career with a .263/.342/497 batting line, a 111 wRC+, and 434 home runs. However, he was mostly below average after turning 30, which probably influenced his Hall of Fame eligibility.
This summer, Carlos Beltrán will join Jones in Cooperstown, alongside former Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent, who was elected through the Contemporary Era ballot in December.
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