A-Rod, Ortiz headline newcomers on 2022 Hall of Fame ballot

Former superstars Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz headline a group of 13 newcomers on the Baseball Hall of Fame's class of 2022 ballot released Thursday.

The full list of first-time candidates includes several former MVPs and Cy Young winners who finished their careers in 2016.

These first-timers join a group of 17 holdovers who each received more than 5% of the vote in 2021. Controversial candidates Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Curt Schilling, and Sammy Sosa are all making their 10th and final appearances on the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot. Schilling was the only candidate to garner more than 70% support in the most recent vote.

The election results will be announced on Jan. 25. Candidates who receive at least 75% of writers' votes will be inducted as members of the class of 2022, while those receiving less than 5% won't be held over to 2023.

The BBWAA did not elect any players in 2021. Derek Jeter and Larry Walker were the players most recently elected by writers as members of the class of 2020; their induction ceremony was delayed until this past September due to COVID-19.