Cooperstown bound? 3 Padres making their own case for the Hall as this years class announced

The 2025 MLB Hall of Fame class is here, and three players have been immortalized as some of the best players the game has ever seen. Ichiro Suzuki to no surprise joins the Hall in his first year on the ballot, securing all but one vote, while CC Sabathia joins as a Yankee having been just the 3rd left handed pitcher to join the 3,000 strikeout club. Billy Wagner, one of the best closers the game has seen, also heard his name called after in his 10th and final year on the ballot, a wait that many feel should have been much shorter.

The San Diego Padres currently have 13 members enshrined in Cooperstown, but that number could rise when a few key players currently on the Padres wrap up their careers. Manny Machado has almost guaranteed his spot in the Hall, while youngster Fernando Tatis Jr. has some work to do, but could still hear his name called. Yu Darvish is coming to the end of his career, but could make a late push to improve his chances.

Manny Machado

As the only member of this list that is an almost guaranteed lock to join the Hall, Padres fans can look forward to seeing Manny Machado represent San Diego in Cooperstown in the near future. The six-time All-Star spent the first six-and-a-half years in Baltimore followed by a year with the Dodgers, but will surely be entering the Hall of Fame as a Padre after signing his 10-year, $300 million contract in 2019.

Machado has two Silver Sluggers and two Gold Glove awards to go along with his All-Star selections, as well as four top 5 finishes in MVP voting. Just one hundred hits away from the 2,000 club, and Machado is set to solidify himself as an all-time player in 2025. His case for the Hall however goes farther than just the awards. Machado has been the face of consistency, an average .826 OPS over 13 seasons, and consistent power that puts him at just over 30 home runs a season on average. Not to mention the catalog of highlight reel plays that have given birth to the phrase, "you just got Machado'd."

Getting into the Hall of Fame has been notoriously challenging for third basemen, who are the second-least represented position with 19, just behind second base with 20 and ahead of designated hitter with 3. Machado will surely be joined by Nolan Arenado as this generation's third basemen to be elected, the two routinely being the standard at the position.

Fernando Tatis Jr.

Fernando Tatis Jr. took the league by storm in 2019, finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting with an impressive array of highlight plays. Now five years into his playing career, Tatis Jr. has made some huge changes to his game, but needs to pick up the pace if he wants to be a sure lock.

The 2021 season was a glimpse into the quality of player Tatis Jr is when fully healthy. Earning one of his two All-Star selections and one of his two Silver Sluggers, he hit 42 home runs and put up the Padres third-highest single-season offensive WAR of all-time at 7.3, and the fourth-highest OPS at .975. When Tatis Jr. is healthy and on the field, there's not many better in baseball.

For now, it is Tatis Jr.'s youth that is giving him his best shot at the hall. The numbers have dipped in the past two seasons, but his move to outfield in 2023 has paid off, earning him his first Gold Glove that same season. A second All-Star selection in 2024 continued his success, but a string of high-success seasons is needed to improve his chances.

As Padre fans, it is tough to admit that one era of Tatis' career will definitely put a dent in his hopes, but it goes without question that his PED suspension will surely cause debate when it's his time on the block. Missing the entirety of the 2022 season through the suspension and injury does harm his chances, but there is no denying the San Diego Padres have the caliber of player that could find himself among the all time greats.

Yu Darvish

Yu Darvish is the largest stretch of the three hopefuls, but there is still time for the pitcher to squeeze his way into Cooperstown. Entering his 20th season of professional baseball across Japan and the MLB, Darvish has solidified himself as one of the most consistent and innovative pitchers of the generation. His case for the Hall, however, rests on these last few years of his career.

Darvish has earned himself a whopping 203 wins across 19 seasons of professional baseball, 12 of those seasons coming with the Rangers, Dodgers, Cubs, and Padres. After dominating in Japan for seven years earning 93 wins with a 1.99 ERA, Darvish moved to the MLB where he has continued to be an elite starter. With five All-Star selections and twice finishing second in Cy Young voting, Darvish has the recognition, but may need one or two more dominant seasons to have a chance.

Longevity is the main concern for the 38-year-old and his chances, but Darvish has learned to modify his pitch selection over the years to consistently give himself an advantage. Barring any major injury, Darvish has the chance to make the Hall on a contract that sees him with the Padres until 2028.