Trevor Hoffman

Trevor Hoffman
Hoffman pitching for the Brewers on September 3, 2009 at Busch Stadium.
Milwaukee Brewers – No. 51
Relief pitcher
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
April 6, 1993, for the Florida Marlins
Career statistics (through September 7, 2010)
Win-Loss	61-75
Earned run average	2.87
Strikeouts	1,132
Saves	600
Teams
Florida Marlins (1993) San Diego Padres (1993–2008) Milwaukee Brewers (2009–present)
Career highlights and awards
All-time leader in saves 7x All-Star selection (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2009) 2008 Branch Rickey Award Winner 2× MLB saves champion (1998, 2006) 2x NL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award (1998, 2006)

Trevor William Hoffman (born October 13, 1967, Template:City-state) is a right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers. He played 16 seasons with the San Diego Padres. A long-time closer, he is currently the Major Leagues' all-time leader in saves with 600 (as of 9/7/10), having broken the previous record held by Lee Smith on September 24, 2006. He is considered extremely likely to be elected to the Hall of Fame and would join the five other closers who have received that honor. He is known for having one of the best changeups in the game.

Early life

When Hoffman was five weeks old, he had to have a damaged kidney removed because an arterial blockage had formed there. He often accompanied his father to California Angels games. His older brother is the former major league shortstop, Glenn Hoffman, who played from 1980–1989 for the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and California Angels and briefly managed the Dodgers in 1998. He and his brother both attended and played for Savanna High School.

Personal life

Trevor Hoffman asked his wife, Tracy, to marry him during Super Bowl XXVII in 1993. He has 3 sons; Brody Burke, Quinn Eddie, and Wyatt Quade. His mother was a ballerina.

Pre-professional baseball career

Hoffman played baseball for the Savanna High School "Rebels" in Anaheim, California, for the Cypress College Chargers, and later for the University of Arizona from 1987 to 1989. He played shortstop and led the team in hitting in 1988. In 1989, he had a .371 batting average, 35 points better than teammates J.T. Snow and Jeff Grier.

Professional baseball career

Minor leagues

Hoffman was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in 11th Round (288th overall) of the 1989 amateur entry draft (June-Reg). Hoffman played shortstop and third base for the Reds' Single-A affiliate Charleston. In his first 103 games, he only batted .212 with 23 runs batted in. Hoffman was converted to pitcher in 1991 at the suggestion of Charleston manager Jim Lett. In his first season on the mound, Hoffman threw a total of 47+2⁄3 innings with a 1.89 ERA and 75 strikeouts at Single-A Cedar Rapids and Double-A Chattanooga.

Major leagues (1993–present)

1993–95

Hoffman was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 1992 MLB Expansion Draft. He is currently the only active player in Major League Baseball remaining from the Marlins' 1993 inaugural season.

Midway through the 1993 season, Hoffman was traded to the San Diego Padres during San Diego's infamous 1993 fire sale that sent slugger Gary Sheffield from San Diego to Florida. Hoffman is the only prospect acquired from the fire sale to develop into an every day major leaguer.

During the strike-shortened 1994 season, Hoffman took over closer duties for Gene Harris. Hoffman recorded 20 saves and earned run average of 2.57.

In 1995, Hoffman pitched most of the year with a torn rotator cuff which forced him to have off-season surgery. However, this is also the year during which he developed his change up/palm ball.

1996–98

Petco Park's introduction for Hoffman's entrance during his tenure with the Padres.

In both 1996 and 1997, Hoffman pitched over 80 innings, with 111 strikeouts, averaged approximately 40 saves, and had ERAs of 2.25 and 2.66. In 1996, Hoffman recorded saves in the final three games of the season against the Los Angeles Dodgers in LA to the clinch the NL West.

In 1998, Hoffman had a career-high 53 saves and a career-best 1.48 ERA. His 53 saves that year tied the NL single-season record set in 1993 by the Cubs' Randy Myers. His numbers got him into the Cy Young race that year, but he lost to Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves, despite receiving 13 first-place votes to Glavine's 11. Hoffman, along with Adam Wainwright in 2009 are the only two pitchers to ever receive the most first-place votes and not win the Cy Young. Hoffman won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award and the The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award.

The Padres reached the 1998 World Series, but lost against the New York Yankees in four games, including a game where he took the loss after allowing a three-run home run while the Padres led 3-2. It was during this year that Hoffman began entering save situations in Padres home games with AC/DC's "Hells Bells" playing over the public address system.

1999–2002

Hoffman followed his 1998 performance by averaging over 40 saves over the next four years (40, 43, 43, 38). His 1998 and 1999 seasons were rewarded with a four-year contract for 2000–04 worth $32 million. Further, his career was beginning to be followed on a national stage and compared to other greats including Dennis Eckersley. Hoffman broke Eckersley's record for most saves with one team (320) in 2002. Sports Illustrated dedicated their May 13, 2002 issue to Hoffman, calling him the greatest closer in MLB history.

2003–06

Hoffman sat out most of the 2003 season while recovering from two off season shoulder surgeries, including one that trimmed the tip of his scapula. This year was the first time he had been on the disabled list in 10 major league seasons. In his absence, Rod Beck closed for the Padres. In 2004, Hoffman returned to the closers role. His 2.30 ERA in 2004 was his lowest since 1998.

On May 6, 2005, Hoffman recorded his 400th save, becoming the third pitcher in Major League history to reach the milestone, following John Franco (424 saves) and Lee Smith (478 saves). On August 24, 2005, Hoffman passed Franco for second place on the all-time saves list with his 425th save.

He was the losing pitcher in the 2006 All-Star Game, despite having two strikes with two outs on eventual All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Michael Young. August 20 marked Hoffman's 776th outing for the Padres, breaking the Pirates Elroy Face's major league record for most relief appearances with one club, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. On September 24, Hoffman became the all-time Major League saves leader, surpassing Lee Smith's record.

2007–08

Hoffman pitching for the Padres in 2008.

On April 29, 2007, Hoffman pitched in his 803rd game for the Padres, breaking the record for games pitched for any one team. The record was previously held by both Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators and Elroy Face of the Pittsburgh Pirates. On June 6, 2007, at PETCO Park, Hoffman recorded his 500th career save. Hoffman was the first pitcher in history to log 500 saves, having since been joined by Mariano Rivera on June 28, 2009. On July 1, 2007, Hoffman was named to the NL All Star Team for the sixth time in his career. On September 8, 2007, Hoffman struck-out his 1000th hitter, a feat matched by only 7 other relief pitchers. On September 27, 2007, Hoffman picked up his 40th save of the 2007 season, marking his ninth season with 40 saves, a Major League record. On October 1, 2007, in the Padres' tie-breaker wild card game against the Colorado Rockies, Hoffman blew a save and his team's 8–6 lead in the 13th inning. He took the loss when he allowed the game-winning run to score on a sacrifice fly.

On August 14, 2008, Hoffman recorded his 550th save. On September 19, 2008, Hoffman appeared in his 900th career MLB game.

It was announced on November 10, 2008, that Hoffman would not return to San Diego in 2009. The Padres retracted the $4 million dollar offer with an option for 2010, which ended his career with the Padres.

2009–present

On January 13, 2009, Hoffman signed a one-year $6 million deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. Hoffman suffered a strained muscle on the right side of his rib cage in Spring Training, and started the season on the DL. Hoffman made his Milwaukee Brewers debut on April 27, 2009. Hoffman recorded his first save for the Brewers the next day on April 28, 2009.

He was selected as an All-Star in 2009 as a late replacement, making his seventh appearance, and first as a Brewer. Hoffman appeared in 55 games with the Brewers, recording up 37 saves in 41 attempts with a 1.83 ERA. In the offseason, he re-signed with the Brewers for 2010 with a mutual option for the 2011 season.

With reduced velocity on his fastball and a lack of control for his changeup, Hoffman struggled in 2010. In April, Hoffman pitched 9 innings and allowed 13 earned runs and six home runs—surpassing his totals in both categories from all of last season—and he blew four of his seven save opportunities. Through the first week of June, Hoffman accumulated five blown saves in ten opportunities and four losses. Hoffman's struggles prompted Brewers manager Ken Macha to remove him as closer and move him into a middle relief to work on his problems. Hoffman was stuck at 596 career saves before his demotion. Hoffman was reinstated as closer later in the season, with the Brewers well out of postseason contention. On September 7, 2010, Hoffman recorded his 600th save.

Pitching style

When Hoffman first came into the league, he threw in the low- to mid-90's with a tight curveball. Hoffman’s repertoire now includes one of the game’s best changeups, a more modest four-seam fastball in the 84–88 MPH range, a slower cut fastball that moves in towards a left-handed batter, and he even mixes in a slider and a curveball a handful of times a year for good measure. However, for all intents and purposes, Hoffman is a two-pitch pitcher, alternating between fastballs and changeups. It is the arm action on the change up and the late sink just before it reaches the plate that has allowed Hoffman to be as successful as he has been over the years.

In 1998, he threw a fastball in the low 90’s. However, his velocity has dropped off in recent years. His velocity has actually improved since he had shoulder surgery that forced him to miss most of the 2003 season. Before that procedure, Hoffman’s fastball had slowed to the low to mid 80’s. Despite his diminished velocity, Hoffman’s strikeout numbers remained high, striking out more than a batter per inning every season up to 2003 and striking out nearly that many in 2004 and 2005. The 2006 season, though, saw his strikeout numbers fall off noticeably.

Hoffman learned the change up, which he now throws with a palmball grip from teammate Donnie Elliott during the 1994 player's strike. Hoffman's original change-up was a conventional circle changeup taught to him by Cincinnati scout Larry Barton. He began using the palm ball grip in 1995 when he did not have his best fastball because he was pitching most of the year with a torn rotator cuff. Hoffman opted to pitch through the pain and have surgery in the off-season rather than end his season early. He came back the following year to throw in the low 90's, with a tight curveball and that terrific changeup. The key to the pitch, Hoffman explains in the September 11, 2006 edition of ESPN The Magazine, is how he pinches the seam of the ball with his thumb and index finger as he releases it. He throws the changeup with the arm speed used to throw a fastball. In this article, writer Buster Olney attributes Hoffman's initial loss of velocity and torn rotator cuff in 1995 to horsing around at Del Mar Beach near San Diego during the strike. Over the years, Hoffman has lost 10 mph off his fastball. But he has altered his change-up to 7–10 mph slower than his fastball. Until recently, Hoffman kept the grip of his change-up a secret. "I was a little weird about it," Hoffman said. "I didn't like talking about how I threw the change. I didn't want people to see how I gripped the ball. I thought I'd be giving away something to the hitters."

Accomplishments

• 7-time All-Star (1998–2000, 2002, 2006–2007, 2009)
• 2-time winner of Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award (1998, 2006)
• Member of Padres' 1998 National League pennant-winning team
• Hutch Award for service to the community (2004)
• Lou Gehrig Memorial Award (2006)
• 3-time winner of TSN Gatorade Server of the Year Award (1996, 1998, 2006)
• 2-time National League saves leader (1998, 2006)
• 2-time NL Pitcher of the month (May 2005, May 2009)
• 820 Games finished, most All-Time
• Holds MLB record with 8 consecutive seasons with 30 or more saves (1995–2002)
• Holds MLB record with 15 20-Save seasons (1994–2002, 2004–2009)
• Holds MLB record with 14 30-Save seasons (1995–2002, 2004–2009)
• Holds MLB record with 9 40-Save seasons (1996, 1998–2001, 2004–2007)
• 9.48 Strikeouts per 9 innings ranks 5th all time and best ever among relievers.
• 4-time winner of the “DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award” (May 2005, September 2006, May 2007, May 2009)
• 600 All Time Saves
• Considered by many as the nicest player in the game.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders
• List of Major League Baseball leaders in games finished
• List of Major League Baseball individual streaks
• List of Major League Baseball saves champions

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)

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