Baseball Hall Of Fame Class Announced Wednesday: How To Watch

COOPERSTOWN, NY – Spring may still seem like a distant dream for much of the country. On Wednesday, hope will be in the air when the Baseball Hall of Fame announces the Class of 2018.

Nearly three-dozen players are eligible – from first timers like Jim Thome and Johny Damon to players like Edgar Martinez and Fred McGriff who are making their ninth appearances.

According to respected Hall of Fame Tracker Ryan Thibodaux, there are three players who seem to be sure bets – Jim Thome and Chipper Jones, who are both making their first appearances on the ballot, and Vladmir Guerrero, who is making his second.

Thibodaux also puts Trevor Hoffman, Edgar Martinez, and Mike Mussina as having a good shot.

As for Barry Bonds, Curt Schilling, and Roger Clemens – all making their sixth appearance on the ballot – the three are on the bubble.

Players need at least 75 percent of the ballots cast by members of the Baseball Writers Association of of America.

The most ever selected in a single year was five and that was the first class picked.

You can watch the announcement live on MLB.com and MLBtv.com at 6 p.m., Eastern.

Here are players on the ballot:

• Barry Bonds
• Chris Carpenter
• Roger Clemens
• Johnny Damon
• Vladimir Guerrero
• Livan Hernandez
• Trevor Hoffman
• Orlando Hudson
• Aubrey Huff
• Jason Isringhausen
• Andruw Jones
• Chipper Jones
• Jeff Kent
• Carlos Lee
• Brad Lidge
• Edgar Martinez
• Hideki Matsui
• Fred McGriff
• Kevin Millwood
• Jamie Moyer
• Mike Mussina
• Manny Ramirez
• Scott Rolen
• Johan Santana
• Curt Schilling
• Gary Sheffield
• Sammy Sosa
• Jim Thome
• Omar Vizquel
• Billy Wagner
• Larry Walker
• Kerry Wood
• Carlos Zambrano

Photo of fans visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame via Mike Groll/AP Photo