Jeff Hoffman’s struggles and who could replace him as the Blue Jays’ closer

It may be time for the Toronto Blue Jays to reconsider how they use Jeff Hoffman.

On Sunday afternoon. Hoffman’s struggles continued as he gave up one unearned run to score, while allowing his two inherited runners to score. After 32.1 innings pitched in 34 games, Hoffman has a 5.29 ERA and a 4.58 FIP.

Brendon Little was tagged with the loss, as the first two runners to score were his responsibility. However, Hoffman blew his fourth save of the season, as he’s now 17/21 in save opportunities.

It was Hoffman’s first blown save in a while, as the last time he was tagged with a blown save was exactly a month before Sunday’s game, where he gave up two earned runs in an inning of work against the San Diego Padres, a game that the Jays eventually won.

Although he hadn’t blown a save in a month, or 11 games, Hoffman’s numbers have been less than encouraging. In his 10 innings pitched, the right-handed pitcher has given up four earned runs for a 3.60 ERA, which isn’t that bad, all things considered. What is a little more concerning is his 6.27 FIP, as he’s given up three home runs. 

All three of those games in his last 12 which he’s given up an earned run, have been thanks to a home run, a season-long issue for Hoffman. In 32.1 innings pitched, Hoffman has given up eight home runs, already the fourth-highest total of his career, and his highest since he started games with the Cincinnati Reds in 2021.

On a rate basis, Hoffman has a home run per 9 rate of 2.20, by far the worst since he pitched as a starter at Coors Field in 2019. In his prior two seasons as a high-leverage reliever in 2023 and 2024 with the Philadelphia Phillies, Hoffman had a 0.52 HR/9 and a 0.81 HR/9, respectively.

While home runs have been a significant issue for Hoffman, he’s still getting the job done. Hoffman’s 17 saves are tied for the sixth-most in the league, behind Carlos Estevez, Robert Suarez, Josh Hader, Kyle Finnegam, and Andres Munoz. Four blown saves are less than ideal, but plenty of relievers have more or as many as Hoffman does. For example, Finnegan has five blown saves, and Munoz (who has a 1.26 ERA) has four blown saves.

A big question is whether or not the Blue Jays have a better option on the team. If the Jays remove Hoffman from the closer role, even for a little while, they have three internal options who may be able to fill in.

Yariel Rodriguez

After Yariel Rodriguez’s mediocre debut season in the big leagues as a starter, the Cuban righty has found a home as a high-leverage reliever in the Jays’ pen. With a two-strikeout performance on Sunday, the 28-year-old has a 2.61 ERA and a 3.99 FIP in 38 innings pitched, with a 25.5 K% and an 8.5 BB%.

That doesn’t tell the whole story of just how dominant Rodriguez has been. In his first 14.1 innings pitched this season, Rodriguez gave up nine earned runs for a 5.65 FIP and 7.11 FIP, while striking out 19.4% of batters and posting a 12.9 BB%.

Since May 7, Rodriguez has pitched 23.2 innings, allowing just two earned runs for a 0.76 ERA and a 2.18 FIP. Moreover, Rodriguez has a 30.4 K% and a 5.1 BB% in that span. He’s been dominant and even picked up his first career save on June 11.

Yimi Garcia

Yimi Garcia is still on the Blue Jays’ 15-day Injured List, but appears to be close to returning to pitching duties as he’s throwing bullpen sessions. When he’s been healthy, Garcia has been used as the Jays’ de facto closer when Hoffman was unable to pitch this season.

In 2025, Garcia has a 3.15 ERA and a 2.96 FIP in 20 innings pitched, along with a 28.9 K% and a 12 BB%. He also has three saves while blowing three saves. That said, he has experience in both closing and high-leverage scenarios. Last season, Garcia picked up five saves in seven opportunities, along with 13 holds, before he was traded to the Seattle Mariners. In 2023, he had 19 holds, and in 2022, Garcia had 22 holds.

Moreover, Garcia picked up 15 saves in 2021 with the Miami Marlins, blowing just three saves in that span. So he has a history of closing.

Braydon Fisher

This one may come a little bit out of left field, considering that Fisher has barely even pitched in high-leverage situations so far this season. That said, Fisher has been dominant out of the bullpen.

In 17 games in relief, Fisher has pitched 18 innings and hasn’t given up a single run, either earned or unearned. He’s walked just two batters while striking out 26, giving him a 41.9 K% and a 3.2 BB%. Fisher’s K-BB% of 38.7% is first in the big leagues for any pitcher coming out of the bullpen in relief with 10 or more innings pitched.

It’s not even close either, as the next-best K-BB% for a relief pitcher is Josh Hader, who has a 34.9 K-BB% in 33.1 innings pitched.

Thrusting Fisher into the closer role this soon could be a mistake, but at the very least, he should be pitching in more relief because he’s been absolutely nails so far this season.