Carlos Beltrán is knocking at the door of Cooperstown. A steady increase in votes for the National Baseball Hall of Fame has the former Royal and longtime center fielder as close as ever to being elected in the coming year or two.

The no-doubters appear to be a few years away as next winter's ballot doesn't include any slam-dunk first-ballot inductees.

Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner are the newest inductees to the National Baseball Hall of Fame as it revealed its Class of 2025.

Who will join Dave Parker and Dick Allen in the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2025? Find out when the results of the Baseball Writers' Association of America election are announced tonight at 6 p.m.

If Ichiro Suzuki misses unanimous election to the Baseball Hall of Fame, it would be by a handful of votes at most. For Carlos Beltran, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner, a handful of votes may determine whether any or all of them join Suzuki as a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

Ichiro Suzuki could become the first Japanese player in baseball’s Hall of Fame, and CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner and Carlos Beltrán also could be elected when results of the writers’ voting are announced.

The Baseball Writers of America announced they have elected Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner as their 2025 Hall of Fame inductees. Former Royals outfielder Carlos Beltrán fell short of selection on his third year of eligibility.

Ichiro Suzuki could become the first Japanese player in baseball's Hall of Fame, and CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner and Carlos Beltrán also could be elected Tuesday