The Seattle Mariners had an incredible summer last season, highlighted by the Hall of Fame induction of one of the best players in franchise history.

Outfielder Ichiro Suzuki was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and had his No. 51 retired by the Mariners. Suzuki was one vote away from being the second-ever unanimous selection into the HOF.

Seattle had the opportunity to have four more former players inducted into the Hall of Fame in the 2026 class, but none of them were able to earn the necessary 75% of votes to get in the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, N.Y.

Here's an overview of the four players who were up for the 2026 Hall of Fame class, where they finished in voting and an overview of their professional careers.

Hernandez was on the ballot for the second time. He earned significantly more votes in his second go-around. He earned 20.6% of votes in 2025 compared to 46.1% of the votes in '26.

Hernandez spent the entirety of his 15-season major league career with the Mariners from 2005-19.

During that time, Hernandez won one Cy Young award (2010), was a six-time All-Star, ('09, '11-15), led the major leagues in wins once ('09) and led the American League in ERA twice ('10, '14). 

Hernandez pitched the only perfect game in Seattle history as well. It was a 1-0 win against the Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 15, 2012.

Hernandez earned a significant improvement in votes in his second year on the ballot. If those numbers improve at a similar rate next year, Hernandez will join Suzuki, Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez as Mariners in the Hall of Fame.

Vizquel was a 24-year major leaguer and spent the first five years of his career with Seattle from 1989-93.

In his career, Vizquel also played for the then-Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.

Vizquel was a three-time All-Star ('98-99, '02) and won 11 career Gold Gloves ('93-01, '05-06).

Vizquel earned 18.4% of the vote on the Hall of Fame ballot.

Similar to Vizquel, Rodriguez spent the beginning of his career with the M's.

Rodriguez had 23-year major league career and played with the Mariners from '94-2000.

Rodriguez was a 14-time All-Star ('96-98, 2000-08, '10-11), was a three-time American League MVP ('03, '05, '07), two-time Gold Glove winner ('02-03), 10-time Silver Slugger winner ('96, '98-2003, '05, '07-08) and won the World Series with the New York Yankees in 2009.

Despite his exemplary accomplishments, Rodriguez was is a key part of baseball's performance-enhancing drug era. He was suspended for the 2014 season.

Rodriguez earned 40% of the vote for the '26 Hall of Fame ballot.

Encarnacion had a 16-year major league career with the Cincinnati Reds, Blue Jays, Cleveland, Seattle, Yankees and White Sox. He spent part of one of those seasons with the Mariners in 2019.

Encarnacion made the All-Star game three times ('13-14, '16). He led the American League in RBIs in '16. He received 1.4% of the votes in his first year of the ballot.

Hernandez, Vizquel and Rodriguez will all return on the ballot next year. It will be Vizquel's 10th year on the ballot and his last opportunity to get inducted based on the 10-year limit on the modern era ballot.

Encarnacion will be dropped from the ballot due to receiving less than 5% of the votes.

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