Jeff Hoffman is stepping into the spotlight for Team USA at the World Baseball Classic. The Latham, New York native is set to face off against his Blue Jays teammate, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Team Dominican Republic in the semifinals on Sunday night.
Hoffman is stepping in for the legendary Clayton Kershaw, who, despite being a three-time Cy Young winner, didn’t take the mound for Team USA during pool play or their quarterfinal clash with Team Canada. Kershaw, who recently announced his retirement from MLB after securing a second World Series ring with the Dodgers, had hoped to check the WBC off his bucket list.
Now, it’s Hoffman’s turn to chase glory before the 2026 MLB season kicks off. After signing a three-year, $33 million deal with the Blue Jays ahead of the 2025 season, Hoffman experienced a rollercoaster year.
He started strong, allowing just two earned runs over 15.1 innings in the first month, striking out 22. However, the long ball haunted him throughout the season, surrendering a league-high 15 home runs for a reliever.
His 1.99 HR/9 was a career high since he became a full-time reliever, exceeding his total from the previous three seasons combined.
Despite the regular season ups and downs, Hoffman found his stride in the postseason, pitching 12.1 innings with 18 strikeouts and just two earned runs. He was nearly flawless until a ninth-inning home run in Game 7 of the World Series tied the score.
Eager to move past that moment, Hoffman has shown promise in Grapefruit League action, pitching two perfect innings with three strikeouts and no walks-importantly, without giving up a home run. He joins a determined Team USA aiming to return to the WBC finals and avenge their 2023 loss to Team Japan.
They face a formidable opponent in Team Dominican Republic, which leads the tournament with 14 home runs, 50 RBIs, and a .312 team batting average. It’s shaping up to be a thrilling showdown, with Hoffman ready to make his mark on the international stage.