Since moving out of the closer role, Blue Jays' Jeff Hoffman has been dialed in

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jeff Hoffman. William Liang-Imagn Images

Since moving out of the closer role, Blue Jays' Jeff Hoffman has been dialed in

By Vanessa Serrao | Last updated May 29, 2026 7:35 PM ET

Since Jeff Hoffman has moved out of the closer role, he has demonstrated more composure and dominance on the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Across his last 10 games, he's boasted a 3-1 record, 2.79 ERA, 15 punchouts and a 1.24 WHIP.

He's performed well as a seventh-inning reliever using his slider and fastball well. His slider has produced a 37.7% Putaway Percentage (PutAway%) and a high whiff rate of 55.3%.

Performing in less high-leverage situations has helped regain his confidence. Hoffman needed a mental reset in a different role, and it's transformed and stabilized the bullpen.

The Blue Jays have primarily used Louis Varland in the closer role, and across 30 innings pitched this season, he's recorded 41 strikeouts and eight saves with an impeccable 0.30 ERA.

The Blue Jays bullpen ERA sits at 3.24, which ranks fifth in MLB, demonstrating a significant improvement from the end of April with a 4.10 ERA.

Jeff Hoffman last 10 games:

3-1
ERA: 2.79
Strikeouts: 15
WHIP: 1.24

Has been sneaky good since moving out of the closer role. pic.twitter.com/zwHygQSVnv
— Jays Digest (@JaysDigestYT) May 29, 2026

Jeff Hoffman's success since moving out of the closer role

His most impressive outing was in the Miami Marlins series on May 27. The 33-year-old carried out an unconventional yet sneaky-good pickoff at third base to end the sixth-inning frame.

Hoffman successfully picked off and caught baserunner Heriberto Hernández off-guard to record the out.

Hoffman successfully completed the play with the help of third baseman Kazuma Okamoto by tagging Hernández.

The unexpected wizardly play shutdown the Marlins' heads-up baserunning, which sealed a 2-1 victory and critical series win.

Overall, Hoffman has generated a solid strikeout (37.9%) and chase rate (39.7%) that both sit in the 99th percentile, helping to retire batters and be a solid set-up man for relievers such as Varland and Tyler Rogers.

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

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