Jeff Kent took Tommy Lasorda’s ‘simple truth’ all the way to Baseball Hall of Fame

COOPERSTOWN — Jeff Kent’s day in Cooperstown finally came Sunday. The legendary second baseman was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame alongside Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones. All three members of the 2026 Hall of Fame class have experienced playing in New York, though only Beltrán sports a New York cap on his plaque. In his speech, Kent reflected on his time with the Mets, which spanned four seasons from 1992 to 1996. Jeff Kent speaks during his Baseball Hall of Fame inductino July 26. Charles Wenzelberg Kent was traded to the Mets from Toronto as a rookie, learning of the deal in the middle of the night before a doubleheader. “What a whirlwind that was. New York was something that I was not prepared for,” Kent said. “You learn about pressure and accountability and responsibility fa