The Twins didn’t bring Jeff Hoffman back just because they remembered him from 2023 spring training. They brought him in because the stuff underneath the surface still points to a high-end reliever, even if the ERA hasn’t always looked the part.
That matters now more than ever after Minnesota acquired him just before the trade deadline in its push to reinforce the bullpen for a playoff run. Hoffman once spent camp with the Twins, then opted out before ever appearing in a regular-season game in a Twins uniform. This time, he returns with a very different résumé.
After leaving Minnesota, Hoffman carved out real value with the Phillies. His strikeout rate and K/9 climbed, and that work earned him the closer job on a strong Philadelphia club for two seasons. He turned that into a three-year, $33 million deal with the Blue Jays, then helped anchor Toronto’s bullpen during a World Series run last season.
The surface numbers this year, though, explain why some eyes might have gone straight to concern. Hoffman has a 3.94 ERA this season, and he posted a 4.37 ERA last season. He also lost the primary closer role in Toronto to Louis Varland.
But the deeper indicators tell a different story. His .389 BABIP this season jumps off the page, especially compared with the lower .200s he has usually carried since becoming the closer-caliber reliever he’s been over the past several years.
His .278 BABIP in 2024 was the highest in that stretch. That makes his rough start in 2026 look at least partly tied to bad luck.
His expected numbers back that up. Hoffman’s 3.75 xERA sits below his 4.37 actual ERA, suggesting the results should improve if things normalize.
There’s also a clear reason his rise as a late-inning arm has held up: the fastball got a lot hotter. For years, the former ninth overall pick lived around 94 mph.
In 2023, that number jumped to 97 mph, and he’s still sitting close to that level now, averaging 96 mph with his four-seamer. He’s leaned on his slider against right-handed hitters and his four-seamer against left-handers, but this season that mix has been less effective against righties, who are batting .306 against him.
Even with a lowered arm angle, it may be that his slider simply isn’t getting the same run it has in past seasons.
Still, Hoffman has been a dependable reliever since he left Twins camp on that minor-league deal years ago. Yes, the blown save in Game 7 of last year’s World Series will linger. But his overall postseason line still looked like what you want from a back-end bullpen arm: 12 1/3 innings, a 1.46 ERA, two earned runs, six hits, 18 strikeouts, and four walks.
And even this season, the recent form has been much sharper. Since the start of June, Hoffman has posted a 1.21 ERA with three earned runs, 30 strikeouts, and eight walks.
Put it all together, and it’s easy to see why the Twins went after him - and why they were willing to send a top 10 prospect in Dasan Hill to get the deal done.
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Twins Just Showed How Far Theyd Go For This Playoff Push
The Twins spent the deadline acting like a club that believes the window is still open. They added reliever Jeff Hoffman, absorbed extra payroll and gave up a cluster of prospects, including Bruin Agbayani, Billy Amick, Jhomnardo Reyes, Dasan Hill and John Klein, in a clear push to deepen a roster that thinks it can matter in October.
Just as notable, Minnesota did not empty the cupboard to get there. The front office kept top names like Walker Jenkins and Kaelen Culpepper, signaling a willingness to chase the postseason without gutting the long-term plan. The overall message was pretty plain: the Twins were ready to spend a little more and part with real talent, but only up to the point where the future still looked intact. [Read more 🡒]
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For the former Twins infielder, the opportunity appears to be a real one, with Bride expected to start at third base in the upcoming game. Texas is sorting through its infield depth while Leiter continues to work back after ankle surgery, and Bride now has a chance to show he can hold down a role against familiar American League Central competition. [Read more 🡒]