We see what you’re doing there, Jeff Hoffman.
The ECU alum and Toronto Blue Jays closer is off to a great start this season. Going into Tuesday’s game with the Astros, he’s 2-0 with five saves, 16 strikeouts, a 1.59 ERA and 0.62 WHIP. But why has he had so much success early?
Surely, he’s been fired up after being rejected for a contract by the Orioles and Braves. But a change in his pitch choice has helped, too, according to SportsNet.ca.
Nick Ashbourne writes in part, “For most of the past two years, Hoffman’s signature pitch has been his slider, which he threw significantly more than anything else.”
Ashbourne reports Hoffman’s slider has become his third pitch choice. His use of the split-finger has more than doubled. A chart SportsNet.ca put together shows Hoffman’s pitch types are:
- 4-seam fastball: 51 pitches (39.5%)
- Split-finger fastball: 44 pitches (34.1%)
- Slider: 26 pitches (20.2%)
- Sinker: 8 pitches (6.2%)
How do these people keep up with these sort of things? Whatever the case, it’s working for Hoffman.
Jeff Hoffman (The Canadian Press photo)
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