David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez among first-time candidates on 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot

The 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot was released on Monday and fans of the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in particular will likely be keeping a close eye on a pair of newcomers, as well as two players in their final year of eligibility.

David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez are arguably the two biggest names among the 13 former MLBers who are making their debut on the ballot. "Big Papi" spent the first six seasons of his career with the Minnesota Twins before joining the Red Sox in 2003.

After an ordinary run in Minnesota, Ortiz went on to put together one of, if not the most impressive careers for any designated hitter during his final 14 MLB seasons -- all spent in Boston -- and earned the reputation as the most clutch playoff hitter in franchise history. Ortiz finished his career as a 10-time All-Star and three-time World Series-champion, while winning seven Silver Slugger awards and capturing the 2004 ALCS MVP honor and 2013 World Series MVP crown.

"A-Rod" was selected first overall by the Seattle Mariners in the 1993 MLB June Amateur draft and made his MLB debut the following season at just 18 years old. In his third big league season, Rodriguez made the first of his 14 All-Star games and won the first of his 10 Silver Slugger awards.

Between seven years in Seattle, three with the Texas Rangers and 12 with the New York Yankees, A-Rod won three MVP awards, two Gold Glove awards and one batting title, as well as one World Series championship -- in 2009 with the Yankees. Rodriguez ranks in the top-10 all-time in home runs at 696 (fourth), runs batted in with 2,086 (fourth), total bases with 5,813 (seventh) and runs scored with 2,201 (eighth).

The 11 other players who are in their first year of eligibility include Carl Crawford, Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard, Tim Lincecum, Justin Morneau, Joe Nathan, Jonathan Papelbon, Jake Peavy, A.J. Pierzynski, Jimmy Rollins and Mark Teixeira. The four players who are in their 10th and final year of eligibility are Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Curt Schilling and Sammy Sosa.