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DENVER — Jeff Hoffman didn’t have the first run in MLB that he was hoping for, but in his final appearance of 2016, he put together his most complete performance, giving himself some positive momentum going into the 2017 season in which he is expected to play a big role.
“Everything was in the zone,” he said after the game. “When nights like that happen, it’s fun to pitch, no matter what level you’re at. Hat’s off to Tony [Wolters] for calling a great game back there and there was some great defense behind me, too. Tony got the best out of me tonight.”
There has been some rough sailing for Hoffman both before and after his promotion to MLB. His first season back from Tommy John surgery, he didn’t exhibit the kind of strikeout numbers that had scouts thinking he could and should be a first overall pick just a few years ago. But he K’d seven Brewers in five innings, including the last three guys he faced.
“Tonight,” he said, “I think the work that I’ve been putting in in the bullpen and the talks that I’ve been having with guys [Jon] Gray and [Chad] Bettis and Wolters got the best out of me tonight. I was able to execute a lot of pitches tonight. I’d say anywhere from 90 percent up. That’s what’s gonna get it done.”
He says that his conversations with other pitchers who have recently gone through the struggles of adapting to the Majors (and presumably to Coors Field) have been invaluable.
“They’ve gone through it. When you can learn from other people’s experiences, I think that’s what gets the best out of you.”
Though it was just one start, it certainly showed growth and composure from a young pitcher after and up and down year. It was important for him to go out on a high note, and he did.
“It was definitely a monkey off my back,” Hoffman said. “I couldn’t really get it together there for a while but I was lucky to have these guys around me.”
Jeff Hoffman will spend much of his career being reminded that he was the centerpiece of the Troy Tulowitzki trade but for one night it was all about proving that he could go out for five innings (a pre-game limit) and dominate an MLB lineup and that is precisely what he did.
