# Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina Headline 2026 Latin Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/pujols-molina-latin-hall-of-fame/
- Published: 2026-09-01T15:30:00-05:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

[Albert Pujols](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-01_br),
[Yadier Molina](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/molinya01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-01_br),
[Magglio Ordóñez](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ordonma01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-01_br),
and [Edwin Encarnación](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/encared01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-01_br)
have been elected to the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame as part of its 13th Induction
Class. Pujols and Molina received unanimous support in the voting, followed by Ordóñez
and Encarnación in the Contemporary Players category.

The four former Major League Baseball stars will be officially inducted in December
2026 during a ceremony in Caguas, Puerto Rico. The organization will announce additional
members selected by the Veterans Committee, as well as special award recipients,
in the coming days.

### **󠀁[Albert Pujols](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-01_br)󠁿, 󠀁[Yadier Molina](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/molinya01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-01_br)󠁿, 󠀁[Edwin Encarnación](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/encared01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-01_br)󠁿 and 󠀁[Magglio Ordóñez](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ordonma01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-01_br)󠁿 Elected to the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame**

#### **_Pujols and Molina Unanimously Led the Voting; Ordóñez and Encarnación Complete the Contemporary Players Selection for the 13th Induction Class_**

**Latin Baseball Hall of Fame Press Office**: **PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC**–
The [Latin Baseball Hall of Fame](https://latinbaseball.org/) officially announces
the election of Dominican stars **Albert Pujols** and **Edwin Encarnación** , Puerto
Rican catcher **Yadier Molina,** and Venezuelan outfielder **Magglio Ordóñez** as
the institution’s newest members. They were selected by the Latin Baseball Hall 
of Fame Writers Circle in the Contemporary Players category for the 13th Induction
Class.

[⌊Latin Baseball Hall of Fame 2026 Inductees: Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, Edwin
Encarnacion, Magglio Ordonez⌉⌊Latin Baseball Hall of Fame 2026 Inductees: Albert
Pujols, Yadier Molina, Edwin Encarnacion, Magglio Ordonez⌉[

Following the conclusion of the voting period, accredited members of the Writers
Circle evaluated the careers, accomplishments, historical impact, and legacies of
the players included on the official ballot. Pujols, Molina, Ordóñez and Encarnación
received the four highest vote totals and will be inducted in December 2026 in Caguas,
Puerto Rico.

Latin Baseball Hall of Fame Executive Director **Robinson Paredes** welcomed the
new members after contacting each of them to officially confirm the results.

**_“It is a true honor to see our Writers Circle select, through a fair and balanced
process, a class that represents the highest standard of Latin excellence at the
most demanding levels of the game. These four new members were not only exceptional
players; they are also examples of perseverance, leadership, and citizenship. Each
has used his career and platform to give back to his community in different ways.
We are deeply proud to welcome them to the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame,”_** Paredes
said.

#### **Pujols and Molina Lead Historic Vote**

The official voting concluded with **Albert Pujols** and **Yadier Molina** tied 
for first place after appearing on every ballot cast by the participating members
of the Writers Circle. Venezuelan star **Magglio Ordóñez** finished third, while**
Edwin Encarnación** placed fourth to complete the group of elected players.

Finishing just outside the four-player cutoff were Venezuelan catcher **[Víctor Martínez](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/martivi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-01_br)**,
Cuban pitcher **[Liván Hernández](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hernali01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-01_br)**,
Dominican infielders **[José Reyes](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=reyesjo01,reyesjo02&search=José+Reyes&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-01_br)**
and **[Aramis Ramírez](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ramirar01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-01_br)**,
and Curaçaoan slugger **[Wladimir “Coco” Balentien](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/balenwl01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-09-01_br)**.

**Albert Pujols — Dominican Republic** 
Albert Pujols built one of the greatest 
offensive careers in Major League Baseball history. Over 22 seasons with the St.
Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers, he hit **703 home runs**,
collected **3,384 hits** and drove in **2,218 runs** . He finished his career ranked
fourth all-time in home runs and second in both RBI and total bases.

Pujols was selected to 11 All-Star Games and won three National League Most Valuable
Player Awards, two Gold Glove Awards and the 2001 National League Rookie of the 
Year Award. He also helped St. Louis capture the 2006 and 2011 World Series championships,
establishing himself as one of the most dominant right-handed hitters of all time.

**Yadier Molina — Puerto Rico**
Yadier Molina spent all 19 of his Major League seasons
with the St. Louis Cardinals, becoming a symbol of leadership, baseball intelligence
and defensive excellence. The Puerto Rican catcher recorded **2,168 hits** , **176
home runs** and **1,022 RBI** , earned 10 All-Star selections and won nine Gold 
Glove Awards and four Platinum Glove Awards.

His **2,184 games behind the plate** rank fourth in Major League history. Molina
was a cornerstone of the Cardinals’ 2006 and 2011 World Series championship teams
and a central figure for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.

**Magglio Ordóñez — Venezuela**
Magglio Ordóñez was one of the most consistent and
complete Venezuelan hitters of his generation. During 15 seasons with the Chicago
White Sox and Detroit Tigers, he produced a **.309 career batting average** , **
2,156 hits** , **294 home runs** , **426 doubles** and **1,236 RBI** . He was a 
six-time All-Star and a three-time Silver Slugger Award winner.

In 2007, Ordóñez won the American League batting title with a **.363 average** ,
54 doubles and 139 RBI, finishing second in the Most Valuable Player voting. His
walk-off home run against Oakland in the 2006 American League Championship Series
sent Detroit to its first World Series in 22 years and remains one of the most memorable
moments in franchise history.

**Edwin Encarnación — Dominican Republic**
Edwin Encarnación established himself
as one of the premier power hitters of his era. Across 16 Major League seasons, 
he has accumulated **1,832 hits** , **424 home runs,** and **1,261 RBI** while earning
three All-Star selections. From 2012 through 2019, he hit at least 30 home runs 
in eight consecutive seasons.

In 2016, Encarnación established career highs with 42 home runs and 127 RBI, tying
for the American League lead in runs batted in. That same year, he delivered one
of the most important moments in Toronto Blue Jays history with a walk-off three-
run home run that decided the American League Wild Card Game against Baltimore.

#### **Additional Announcements Forthcoming**

Following the final verification of the Contemporary Players election by the **International
Induction Committee** , under the institutional leadership of President Emeritus**
Don Roberto Weill** , the Hall will announce the new members selected by the Veterans
Committee, as well as the recipients of its special awards, in the coming days.

Through these distinctions, the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame summarizes one of its
most important traditions: expanding and strengthening the recognition of the players,
pioneers, managers, executives, scouts, broadcasters **,** and other figures who
have contributed to building the history of the game.

The **13th Class Induction Ceremony** is scheduled for December 2026 at the **Caguas
Fine Arts Center in Caguas, Puerto Rico** , with the support of local and national
authorities, as well as leading institutions and stakeholders throughout Puerto 
Rican baseball.

**About the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame**
Founded in 2010, the Latin Baseball Hall
of Fame honors the great players, managers, executives, pioneers, and other figures
who have contributed to the development and history of baseball throughout Latin
America. Through its international election process, induction ceremonies, and historical
preservation initiatives, the institution recognizes athletic excellence and celebrates
the cultural and social impact of Latin baseball around the world.

Since 2026, the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame has received official statistical support
and analytical backing from **Baseball Reference** , a **Sports Reference** platform
and one of the world’s leading sources for baseball statistics, historical records,
and comprehensive information. This partnership strengthens the rigor, transparency,
and depth of the Hall’s evaluation and election process.

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