Jeff Kent inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Throughout his weekend of celebration as a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2026, Jeff Kent kept describing himself with one word: deflector.

Deflecting is what kept people at arm’s length throughout the second baseman’s 17-year career. Deflecting made him a bit of a mystery man who didn’t want to reveal too much about himself, even to his own teammates.