Signing a three-year, $33-million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays last offseason was somewhat of a full-circle moment for Jeff Hoffman.
Hoffman marked the first big get for the Blue Jays in last year’s free agency, as he was brought in to replace Jordan Romano as their closer. The 32-year-old signed the deal fresh off his best MLB season with the Philadelphia Phillies, in which he posted a 2.17 ERA in 66.1 innings as a reliever.
Well before he established himself as a valuable bullpen arm, Hoffman was considered a top prospect in the Jays’ system. They selected him with the ninth-overall pick in the 2014 draft, and, at the time, had high expectations that he would develop into an elite starting pitcher.
Hoffman’s time with the Blue Jays organization was short-lived, however, as he was part of a package sent to the Colorado Rockies in 2015 that saw shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and reliever LaTroy Hawkins head to Toronto.
In a recent appearance on Foul Territory, Hoffman admitted to former Blue Jay Kevin Pillar that the trade was upsetting at the time it happened.
“It’s an amazing full circle, when you think about it,” Hoffman said. “Everything obviously happens for a reason, and everything’s going to be hopefully good at the end of the day. Going through that time, obviously, the Blue Jays were really good, and I was really excited to be a part of the organization. To see them go on and make some noise in the playoffs that year was tough.”
Hoffman pitched with the Rockies for parts of five seasons before joining the Cincinnati Reds. It was with the Phillies, however, that he truly began to establish himself as a great relief pitcher. Now, back in Toronto, he’s excited to be a part of the playoff experience he missed out on a decade ago.
“I’m really excited that we get this opportunity to bring something special back to the city of Toronto, back to Canada,” Hoffman said. “We have a bunch of guys in the clubhouse who are really excited to do that too.”
Hoffman and the Blue Jays were able to get one step closer to their ultimate goal on Wednesday, as they eliminated the New York Yankees to punch their ticket to the ALCS. They are now awaiting the winner of a series between the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners to determine who they will face next.
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