This forgotten Reds icon should reach the Hall of Fame even ahead of Joey Votto

Jeff Kent’s unexpected selection to the Hall of Fame has shifted the conversation about who merits induction into Cooperstown. As a middle infielder with tremendous run-producing abilities but a lackluster glove, Kent redefined the second base position, which may have caused the standards for induction to freeze him out until now. Now that the committees that reevaluate player candidacy after the initial BBWAA balloting have seen fit to enshrine Kent, it’s time for Reds legend Dave Concepción to get a second look.

Unlike Kent, Concepción spent most of his career as a shortstop and fit more of the traditional glove-first nature of that position. He scooped up five Gold Glove Awards at the position and made nine consecutive All-Star Games as a member of the Big Red Machine.

Concepción was nowhere near the offensive powerhouse that Kent was, but the pair had one key commonality: they were overshadowed by the sluggers they played with. Without Barry Bonds, does Kent become the slugger he was? Without the rest of the Big Red Machine, is Concepción any more than a flashy glove? How do we account for these environments?

Jeff Kent’s selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame could open the door for Dave Concepción.

It’s possible that Kent was undervalued (even though he has more homers than any other second baseman) because of his time with Bonds. Of course, you’re going to score and get pitches to hit when you’re hitting behind the most feared batter in the sport.

Concepción may continue to be overlooked because he shared an era with defensive wizard Ozzie Smith (who thinks Concepción should be in the Hall, by the way) and then led into the rise of shortstop sluggers like Alex Rodriguez. Perhaps the election of Kent indicates that the voting committees are willing to take a player’s achievements on their own merit rather than in relation to their era or teammates.

Even still, Concepción has a long road to travel. Although he played until 1988, his greatest contributions came before 1980, the dividing line for the voting committees. That likely puts him in the Classic Baseball Era, which will come up for a vote in December 2027.

This will be Concepción’s last chance before Reds great Joey Votto joins the BBWAA ballot in 2029. Concepción fell four votes shy of induction when he appeared on a committee ballot in 2010. Let’s give him another shot.