Former Phillies reliever Jeff Hoffman sends Blue Jays to World Series with pennant-clinching save
Jeff Hoffman turned toward center field inside Toronto’s Rogers Centre and raised both arms straight into the air. The journeyman pitcher, the scrap-heap reliever who made himself into one of the better bullpen pieces in baseball starting in 2023, had just fired the biggest pitch of his life: an 88 mph slider to strike out Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez and send the Blue Jays to the World Series. Hoffman spun back toward catcher Alejandro Kirk and embraced him before the mob fully formed.
In Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night, the right-hander Hoffman was called upon to pitch the top of the ninth inning. He struck out all three batters he faced to pick up the save and clinch the pennant for the Blue Jays with a 4-3 win over the Seattle Mariners.
Hoffman, 32, was a first-round draft pick selected by Toronto in 2014 and was traded to the Rockies the next year. He never quite found his footing as a starter, but he started to make some strides as a reliever for the Reds in 2022.
The next year, Hoffman signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies. He famously threw live batting practice to Bryce Harper as the superstar recovered from an injury, and then he stuck with the big-league team. Hoffman had a 2.28 ERA in 122 appearances across two seasons in Philadelphia, and he became an All-Star in 2024. While he developed into a hidden gem for the Phillies, he had some postseason struggles, especially last October when he allowed six runs in three games during the National League Division Series.
Last winter, Hoffman signed a three-year deal with the Blue Jays to return where his career started. He had an up-and-down regular season, but he’s allowed just one earned run in six outings this postseason.
Facing elimination in Sunday’s Game 6, the Blue Jays handed Hoffman the ball for the last two innings of their 6-2 win. A night later, the club needed Hoffman again.
Although Hoffman threw 35 pitches in Game 6, Toronto went to its closer for the ninth in Game 7 after a momentous George Springer three-run home run gave the Blue Jays the lead in the seventh. After starter Shane Bieber and reliever Louis Varland combined to allow three runs in the first five innings, the rest of the staff held things down. Seranthony Domínguez, another former Phillie, threw a scoreless inning. So did Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt, two usual starters. That gave Hoffman the chance to come in for the one-inning save.
Hoffman struck out Leo Rivas. He struck out Dominic Canzone. He struck out Rodríguez to complete the victory and put Toronto in the World Series for the first time since 1993.
The Blue Jays will host the star-studded Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night in Game 1 of the World Series. With three days of rest in between, Hoffman should be available to take on the biggest moments out of the bullpen for Toronto.