Alex Rodriguez’s career stats read like a baseball fan’s fever dream. The three-time MVP’s numbers rank among the greatest in history, earning him a place in conversations with legends like Willie Mays, Albert Pujols, Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Robinson, Barry Bonds, and Hank Aaron. His career slash line—.295/.380/.550—and milestones like 696 home runs, 3,115 hits, and 2,021 runs scored are enough to make statisticians drool. On paper, he’s a no-doubt Cooperstown entry. But the Hall of Fame voting tells a very different story.

In his first three years on the BBWAA ballot, A-Rod’s voting percentages have barely moved: 34.3% in 2022, 35.7% in 2023, and a slight dip to 34.8% in 2024. This lack of progress might feel like a cruel joke for a player of his caliber, but it’s no laughing matter—it’s a harsh reality. The reason? Performance-enhancing drugs. MLB didn’t just catch A-Rod using PEDs; they suspended him for a record 211 games. His legacy is forever tainted in the eyes of many voters, who can’t look past the scandal, no matter how gaudy the numbers.

Unlike players like Edgar Martinez or Scott Rolen, who turned borderline cases into triumphant Hall of Fame inductions with strong campaigns and a little help from stats nerds online, A-Rod’s path is stuck in neutral. His story seems set, his fate sealed. Love him or hate him, Rodriguez’s Hall of Fame candidacy is a microcosm of baseball’s ongoing struggle with its steroid era—a tale of towering highs and self-inflicted lows, as compelling as it is controversial.

Baseball Hall of Fame 2025 voting:- Where is Alex Rodriguez ? Can he achieve that ultimate glory?   

The countdown to the most significant event of the baseball season has officially started. On January 21, the results of the 81st Baseball Writers’ Association of America Hall of Fame election will be live-streamed from Cooperstown’s Hall of Fame Plaque Gallery. If a nominee receives votes on 75% of all ballots, they will be elected to the Hall of Fame. Fourteen returning hopefuls are vying for a Cooperstown place this time. Leading the pack is Billy Wagner, who is entering his tenth and last year on the ballot and is getting closer to being enshrined with 73.8% of the vote in 2024.

Andruw Jones (61.6%) and Carlos Beltrán (57.1%) also remain within striking distance, while controversial figures like Álex Rodríguez (34.8%) and Manny Ramírez (32.5%) linger far from the 75% threshold.  Meanwhile, newcomers like Chase Utley (28.8%) and David Wright (6.2%) look to gain traction as they navigate their early years on the ballot. According to Ryan Thibodaux’s ballot tracker, Alex Rodriguez’s Hall of Fame campaign remains stalled, with troubling signs for any future progress. He has actually lost one vote from returning voters compared to last year and has garnered support from only half of the first-time voters.  

It’s almost hard to imagine a route where A-Rod acquires the enormous momentum needed to get to Cooperstown, given the difficult effort of leaping to over 75% for enshrinement. A-Rod might become a part of a familiar but unpleasant club of baseball immortals, along with Shoeless Joe Jackson, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Pete Rose. Despite possessing the talent to be elected into the Hall of Fame, none of them were, either because of self-inflicted controversies or because the criteria used to their cases were not uniform.

What’s next for him: How can Alex Rodriguez make it to Cooperstown? The Answer  

Will Alex Rodriguez ever get a call from Cooperstown? That’s the million-dollar question. For now, his connection to performance-enhancing drugs has him stuck in limbo, with voters refusing to budge on his candidacy. But one thing’s for sure: A-Rod’s name isn’t disappearing from the ballot anytime soon. Earning a spot in the National Baseball Hall of Fame is the pinnacle of sports greatness, reserved for those who’ve left an indelible mark on the game. There are two golden tickets to Cooperstown.  The BBWAA (Baseball Writers’ Association of America) handles the annual voting for recently retired players, like Rodriguez, giving them a chance.

For those who run out of time with the writers, the Era Committees—essentially baseball’s second-chance panel—review players, managers, umpires, and executives who’ve slipped through the cracks. Whether it’s through the BBWAA or the Era Committees, Rodriguez’s story might not be over yet. The road to the Hall may be bumpy, but the door isn’t entirely closed. These panels, which were first called the Veterans Committee, elected their first members in 1937 and have been a part of the Hall of Fame process ever since. In order to guarantee that worthy individuals who might have been passed over by authors still have a chance to be recognized, the Era Committees examine a prepared ballot of candidates proposed by the BBWAA Screening Committee. Interesting, isn’t it?

To make sure every era gets its due, the Hall of Fame has split the selection process into three distinct categories. The Contemporary Baseball Era is the spotlight for those players who’ve changed the game since 1980, a time of massive shifts, crazy new records, and unforgettable rivalries.  Meanwhile, the Classic Baseball Era celebrates the pioneers who paved the way before 1980, honoring the players, managers, umpires, and executives who made baseball what it is today.

And let’s not forget the Negro Leagues and pre-Negro Leagues stars, who played an integral role in the sport’s history, ensuring their contributions are recognized.  As for Alex Rodriguez? Well, if the Old-Timer decides to take another swing at the Hall of Fame, he’ll find his place on the Contemporary Baseball Era Players Ballot. A-Rod’s career—loaded with massive home runs, record-breaking hits, and drama to spare—fits perfectly in the era of players who redefined what it means to be a star. One thing’s for sure: A-Rod’s journey to Cooperstown isn’t over yet.