<p>The Toronto Blue Jays have added reinforcements to their bullpen, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-sign-jeff-hoffman-to-a-three-year-deal">signing</a> right-handed pitcher Jeff Hoffman. The deal is allegedly worth three years at $33 million with incentives that could push the deal toward $40 million. Hoffman has had previous dealings with the Blue Jays and the club had reportedly been eying him for some time this winter.</p>
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<p>The Baltimore Orioles allegedly had a <a href="https://twitter.com/ByRobertMurray/status/1877887892921446647">deal in place</a> with Hoffman that was aborted due to concerns with his medical records. It was reported that the Orioles flagged his physical due to concerns about his right shoulder. Days later, Toronto took a stab and put $33 million on the line.</p>
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<p>Hoffman is a nine-year veteran in the league. He was drafted back in 2014 out of East Carolina University. Ironically, Hoffman was selected by the Blue Jays in the first round, ninth overall. The ex-Philadelphia Philly was drafted the same year by the same team as the new Phillies closer, Jordan Romano, although he was a tenth-round selection. The Jays would trade the right-hander a year later to the Colorado Rockies as part of the trade package for Troy Tulowitzki.</p>
<p>Hoffman served five years in Colorado with the Rockies, two years in Cincinnati with the Reds, and the last two years with the Phillies. The reliever cracked the All-Star festivities for the first time this past season.</p>
<h2>Hoffman’s Statistics</h2>
<p>Hoffman transitioned from being a starter in Colorado to a full-time bullpen arm in 2022, solidifying himself as a mid-inning reliever before being entrusted with working in the later innings. He’s able to push beyond three innings a game and could go further if needed given his starting pedigree and his performance last season ended up being one of the most effective outings of his career.</p>
<p>His All-Star appearance was solidified with a career single-season low 2.17 ERA through 66 and 1/3 innings. He struck out 89 hitters, which is a career-high. He walked 16 hitters which is his third lowest in nine seasons. Hoffman also recorded 10 saves. He ranked in the 80th percentile in terms of pitching run value (+11) and boasted numerous metrics above the 90th percentile, including chase% (34.6), whiff% (35.3), and K% (33.6), with the right-hander authoring a 12.1 K/9 in his contract walk year.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jeff Hoffman’s 2024 Season: </p>
<p>⭐️ 2.17 ERA <br />⭐️ 0.96 WHIP <br />⭐️ 89 Ks <br />⭐️ 66.1 IP <br />⭐️ All-Star <a href="https://t.co/oGXWIkl6ZP">pic.twitter.com/oGXWIkl6ZP</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1877882952127779057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Through nine seasons, Hoffman has amassed a 4.82 ERA in 256 games and 467 innings but his reliever stats are where he shines, posting a 3.96 ERA through 229 1/3 innings and holding opponents to a .229/.315/.286 slash line.</p>
<h2>Hoffman’s Metrics and Analysis</h2>
<p>Standing at 6’5”, the right-handed reliever looked as polished as can be, coming off a career year with the Phillies.</p>
<p>His overall structure displays more strength and consistency than ever. Hoffman is repetitive in his delivery and has shaped up his mechanics, utilizing a good leg kick and a consistent relief point. His arm action is clean and his height creates over-the-top spin on most offerings.</p>
<p>Hoffman has four pitch options: a slider, a four-seam fastball, a split-finger, and a sinker. His slider and fastball are two equally dependent options. The fastball heats up to around 96 &#8211; 97 mph with bite and darts around the zone. He commands his heater well and places it where he wants it.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Looking at the bullpen itself, this is a strong move for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a>. </p>
<p>1. Jeff Hoffman is very good and has earned a shot at closing.</p>
<p>2. This slides Yimi García, Erik Swanson and Chad Green into much more natural roles and simplifies things for Pete Walker and John Schneider.</p>
<p>&mdash; Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) <a href="https://twitter.com/KeeganMatheson/status/1877880859660882004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The slider decreases by approximately nine to 10 mph and catches the lower part of the zone to force groundouts and chase, giving hitters something to think about if they are sitting on his fastball. It sits around 86-88 mph and last year, produced a .198 batting average. The slider, sinker, and split-finger force downward action and all work borderline at the bottom of the zone.</p>
<p>This vertical break usually forces groundouts and weak contact. In 2024, Hoffman posted a 37.6% groundout rate and 27.4% flyout rate. He kept hitters overall at 8.4% solid contact and 7.6% barrel percentage &#8211;</p>
<p>Hoffman has high confidence in his stuff. He utilizes his pitch weapons with conviction and pounds the zone on the borderlines. Hoffman showed a great deal of reliability and will strongly be considered for the back end of the bullpen; especially the closer role (which has already been noted by Ross Atkins.</p>
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The Toronto Blue Jays have added reinforcements to their bullpen, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-sign-jeff-hoffman-to-a-three-year-deal">signing</a> right-handed pitcher Jeff Hoffman. The deal is allegedly worth three years at $33 million with incentives that could push the deal toward $40 million. Hoffman has had previous dealings with the Blue Jays and the club had reportedly been eying him for some time this winter.



The Baltimore Orioles allegedly had a <a href="https://twitter.com/ByRobertMurray/status/1877887892921446647">deal in place</a> with Hoffman that was aborted due to concerns with his medical records. It was reported that the Orioles flagged his physical due to concerns about his right shoulder. Days later, Toronto took a stab and put $33 million on the line.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>
Hoffman is a nine-year veteran in the league. He was drafted back in 2014 out of East Carolina University. Ironically, Hoffman was selected by the Blue Jays in the first round, ninth overall. The ex-Philadelphia Philly was drafted the same year by the same team as the new Phillies closer, Jordan Romano, although he was a tenth-round selection. The Jays would trade the right-hander a year later to the Colorado Rockies as part of the trade package for Troy Tulowitzki.

Hoffman served five years in Colorado with the Rockies, two years in Cincinnati with the Reds, and the last two years with the Phillies. The reliever cracked the All-Star festivities for the first time this past season.
<h2>Hoffman’s Statistics</h2>
Hoffman transitioned from being a starter in Colorado to a full-time bullpen arm in 2022, solidifying himself as a mid-inning reliever before being entrusted with working in the later innings. He’s able to push beyond three innings a game and could go further if needed given his starting pedigree and his performance last season ended up being one of the most effective outings of his career.

His All-Star appearance was solidified with a career single-season low 2.17 ERA through 66 and 1/3 innings. He struck out 89 hitters, which is a career-high. He walked 16 hitters which is his third lowest in nine seasons. Hoffman also recorded 10 saves. He ranked in the 80th percentile in terms of pitching run value (+11) and boasted numerous metrics above the 90th percentile, including chase% (34.6), whiff% (35.3), and K% (33.6), with the right-hander authoring a 12.1 K/9 in his contract walk year.

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1877882952127779057

Through nine seasons, Hoffman has amassed a 4.82 ERA in 256 games and 467 innings but his reliever stats are where he shines, posting a 3.96 ERA through 229 1/3 innings and holding opponents to a .229/.315/.286 slash line.
<h2>Hoffman’s Metrics and Analysis</h2>
Standing at 6’5”, the right-handed reliever looked as polished as can be, coming off a career year with the Phillies.

His overall structure displays more strength and consistency than ever. Hoffman is repetitive in his delivery and has shaped up his mechanics, utilizing a good leg kick and a consistent relief point. His arm action is clean and his height creates over-the-top spin on most offerings.

Hoffman has four pitch options: a slider, a four-seam fastball, a split-finger, and a sinker. His slider and fastball are two equally dependent options. The fastball heats up to around 96 - 97 mph with bite and darts around the zone. He commands his heater well and places it where he wants it.

https://twitter.com/KeeganMatheson/status/1877880859660882004

The slider decreases by approximately nine to 10 mph and catches the lower part of the zone to force groundouts and chase, giving hitters something to think about if they are sitting on his fastball. It sits around 86-88 mph and last year, produced a .198 batting average. The slider, sinker, and split-finger force downward action and all work borderline at the bottom of the zone.

This vertical break usually forces groundouts and weak contact. In 2024, Hoffman posted a 37.6% groundout rate and 27.4% flyout rate. He kept hitters overall at 8.4% solid contact and 7.6% barrel percentage -

Hoffman has high confidence in his stuff. He utilizes his pitch weapons with conviction and pounds the zone on the borderlines. Hoffman showed a great deal of reliability and will strongly be considered for the back end of the bullpen; especially the closer role (which has already been noted by Ross Atkins.

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Blue Jays: Scouting report and analysis on RHP Jeff Hoffman

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