"Explain David Ortiz, Mike Piazza" - Fans erupt as MLB insider fuels fire over HOF's hardline stance on “steroid cheats”

MLB announced the class of 2026 Hall of Fame inductees on Sunday. Former second baseman Jeff Kent has been elected to Cooperstown, while Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens have been overlooked again.

Bonds, who is the all-time home run leader, faced allegations of PED use during his career. Seven-time Cy Young winner Clemens also faced similar allegations. However, neither player tested positive for steroid use during their career.

MLB insider Jon Heyman highlighted the allegations against Bonds and Clemens as the reason behind their snub.

"One thing we learned from today’s Hall vote: Hall of Famers and executives like steroid cheats even less than writers do. Good for them!"

MLB fans reacted to Heyman calling out Bonds and Clemens as "steroid cheats" on social media.

"Then explain Ortiz, Piazza, Bagwell n Thome being in."

"David Ortiz and Pudge Rodriguez are currently in the HOF."

"Ridiculous take. The HOF cannot be taken seriously without the greatest hitter the game has ever seen (Barry Bonds), especially when you writers elected Bud Selig who turned a blind eye to it all after the 1994 strike."

"David Ortiz has failed more drug tests than Clemens and Sheffield combined."

"So why are David Ortiz, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggo, and Mike Piazza in the hall of fame then????"

"There are already steroid users in the Hall. I'm sure you voted for at least one of them."

Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy and Gary Sheffield didn't make the cut with Bonds, Clemens, Sheffield and Valenzuela being named on less than five ballots.

Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Kent downplays topic of Barry Bonds' Cooperstown snub

Jeff Kent holds the record for most home runs by a second baseman and he earned 14 of 16 votes by the contemporary baseball era committee to guarantee his induction.

Kent's best years came with the San Francisco Giants, sharing the locker room with Barry Bonds. While Kent acknowledged Bonds as one of the best players in the game, he refused to give his take on the Hall of Fame controversy.

"Barry was a good teammate of mine," Kent said. "He was a guy that I motivated and pushed. We knocked heads a little bit. He was a guy that motivated me at times, in frustration, in love, at times both.

"Barry was one of the best players I ever saw play the game, amazing. For me, I've always said that. I've always avoided the specific answer you're looking for, because I don't have one. I don't. I'm not a voter."

Bonds and Clemens are not eligible for consideration for the next Contemporary Baseball Era Committee ballot in 2028 since they received fewer than five votes this year.

Edited by Chaitanya Prakash