Jeff Hoffman has been a revelation for the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen. Whenever the Phillies need shutdown innings in a high-leverage situation, Hoffman is one of the first names you want to see on the bump. He's another great weapon to have either closing out games or getting the team out of jams.
As great as he's been, it hasn't always come that easy. Hoffman is in his ninth major league season and, for the first time in 2024, was selected to the All-Star team. Hoffman's career ERA is 4.81, and with the help of pitching coach Caleb Cotham, they made tweaks and now have him sporting a 1.82 ERA in 61 appearances this season. Hoffman is becoming "the guy" in the bullpen and with his attitude and newfound pitching ability, the Phillies could be looking at a postseason hero not too far from now.
Hoffman was signed to a minor league deal in 2023 and signed a one-year, $2.2 million deal this season so the clock is ticking as to what to do with him next.
Phillies have to bring Jeff Hoffman back after heart-melting quote about his future
Though players sometimes lean towards stoicism about their contract status during a season, Hoffman did admit that he sees a future in Philadelphia and wants to stay, according to OnPattison's Tim Kelly.
"I want it to be here — I love it here," Hoffman said, per Kelly. "The Phillies have been amazing to me, giving me the opportunity that they did, and I kind of took it and ran with it. And I feel like this is my family, all these guys in here ... bringing back pretty much the same band that we had last year ... making it that much tighter, that much more tight-knit. It feels like home."
The beauty of it is the Phillies can make it work and bring back what has been one of their most reliable relievers in a long while. Fans want him, and it would be truly heartbreaking to see him depart with only a "what if" for fans to stomach. The Phillies have extended a few players this year, including Matt Strahm, Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez. Aaron Nola even re-signed as a free agent with a new deal last fall.
There's always a business side to the game that will ultimately influence how the roster operates. However, with how Hoffman has dominated and his desire to work it out as a Phillie, this can only be made right if Hoffman remains on this club as the teammate who will do anything to help win (subscription required), per Matt Gelb of The Athletic.
Hoffman wants to play here. With the results he's given us, why stop him?