PHILADELPHIA — Carlos Estévez met Jeff Hoffman for the first time nine years ago. They were Double-A teammates in Connecticut; far from the mission they are about to embark upon together this October. Everyone on the New Britain Rock Cats knew who Hoffman was. The Colorado Rockies had just acquired him as part of a trade package for Troy Tulowitzki, one of the franchise’s all-time greats. Hoffman threw 99 mph. He was a starter. He wore Rec Specs when he pitched.
“You only had a glimpse of it in the past,” Estévez said. “Whenever he fell in doubt, he didn’t have the tools or the help to get back on track. I mean, I was there and it was like that. It was tough.”
Fate has brought them together again this month. The Phillies traded two decent pitching prospects to the Los Angeles Angels for Estévez, but not because they didn’t think Hoffman could pitch the ninth inning for a championship contender. They did it because they wanted to cover the ninth so Hoffman could be deployed in the stickiest, highest-stress moments in October.
The list of important Phillies in the postseason is long. Some players will affect the club’s odds more than Hoffman. But as the Phillies craft their pitching blueprint, all paths lead toward Hoffman. They trust him in the biggest moments.
His life changed 17 months ago when the Phillies promoted him to the majors. He was excellent in 2023. He was even better in 2024. He will be a free agent after the World Series and, inside the Phillies clubhouse, Hoffman’s teammates like to tease him. They know it. Everyone does.
Hoffman’s about to get paid.
“I just try to focus on the immediate,” Hoffman, 31, said. “Like, now. What I’m doing right now.”
There is beauty in that because, for years, Hoffman doubted he belonged. Something was always broken, always bothering him. Estévez remembered Hoffman worrying about the “if” at Double A. If I can get hitters out. Freedom from that is a powerful thing.
“I knew he had what it takes to pitch in the big leagues,” Estévez said. “And, for some guys, maybe it takes longer than others. But I just believe this was the right time for him to be like this. And that’s just perfect. I love seeing that.”
As Hoffman stacked scoreless innings in 2024, he showed more personality. He gained confidence. He’d flick his wrist — the universal symbol adopted by infield coach Bobby Dickerson for an exceptional play — when his outings ended. This year, he pitched with some added … sass. He’d flaunt it after a big strikeout. It was subtle.
Hoffman lowered his walk rate. He avoided meltdown innings — except for one night in Seattle in early August and a four-run gut punch on the penultimate day of the season in a meaningless game. He had a 1.65 ERA before that outing in Washington. He finished with a 2.17 mark. That ranked eighth among National League relievers with 60 innings.
Matt Strahm, his best friend on the team, had a 1.87 ERA that ranked fourth. Orion Kerkering, a rookie who takes cues from Hoffman, had a 2.36 ERA that ranked ninth. They, like Hoffman, are important in October.
But, within the Phillies, Hoffman is considered someone who can handle every scenario. He might have the best pure stuff in the bullpen.
Hoffman had belief last year. Now, Phillies pitching coach Caleb Cotham said, it is solidified. Hoffman threw more strikes. His peers from other teams recognized him as an All-Star in July.
“He didn’t lose his edge,” Cotham said. “He’s out there pitching for something. He’s finding reasons and things to pitch for. Whatever it is. He’s never not giving it all he’s got. He always wants to show everyone every time that he’s the best.”
There is motivation. Hoffman, damaged from his time in a backward Rockies organization, was convinced he could help a big-league team. He pitched fine as a middle reliever in 2022 with the Cincinnati Reds, then found no one willing to offer him a major-league contract.
He is on the verge of scoring a massive payday. Hoffman will be one of the best free-agent relievers this winter. He could seek a deal similar to Rafael Montero, another righty setup man signed before his age-32 season in 2023. Houston paid Montero $34.5 million over three years; he was designated for assignment halfway through the contract. Robert Stephenson signed for three years and $33 million last offseason with the Angels. He underwent Tommy John surgery before ever throwing a pitch for Los Angeles.
The Phillies never engaged Hoffman’s camp this season on an extension. There is mutual interest in a reunion.
“It’s everything that I could have dreamed it would be,” Hoffman said. “You know the team is going to be good. You know the owner wants to win. You know the staff is behind the guys fully. The training staff is A-1. It’s just a really good situation. For me, if I want to play another four or five years, whatever it is, I feel like this is the place that can keep me healthy enough to do that. And then also have a chance to win every year that I’m here.”
That’s the edge. Estévez sees a more confident Hoffman because he trusts the support system around him.
“When he feels something, he relays it to the coaching staff here,” Estévez said. “It’s like, ‘Oh yeah, like we’re seeing you can improve on this. But this is your plan. Don’t forget it.’ And that’s what I have seen. He’s a lot better. He knows what he’s got. He knows he’s going to attack with that.”
Last October, postseason baseball was new to Hoffman. He surrendered a critical two-run homer in the eighth inning of Game 2 of the National League Division Series. He threw a pitch in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series that he still regrets.
He knows what to expect this time.
“Red October is not as much of a surprise for me anymore,” Hoffman said. “I’m going to use it to my advantage. Just really put the pedal to the metal. Clean up things that I might have messed up in the past in the postseason. And we’ll be in a pretty good spot.”
Estévez is a believer. He’s seen enough to know.
“Now,” Estévez said, “seeing him throw, it’s like, ‘Oh my God, this is just insane.’”
(Top photo: Matt Slocum / Associated Press)
