Colorado Rockies Top Ten Prospects For 2017
3. Jeff Hoffman, RHP
Birthdate: 1/8/93 (23 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: AAA, MLB
Stats in 2016: 118 2/3 IP, 4.02 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 8.59 BB%, 24.22 K% (minor league stats only)
A serious threat to go #1 overall in the 2014 draft before he ended up having Tommy John surgery in his junior year, Hoffman was still drafted #9 overall by the Blue Jays due to his elite velocity and secondary stuff.
The Rockies insisted on Hoffman as part of the Tulowitzki deal last summer, and they’ve been happy to have him ever since as he’s quickly moved through their system, making his major league debut this year.
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Hoffman works with a fastball that touches 97 but sits more in the 91-95 range. He uses his 6’5 frame to get excellent plane on the pitch low in the zone. The excellent spin rate that he gets on the pitch would allow him some success up in the zone, but he doesn’t get the type of movement on his fastball to use it up in the zone frequently as more than an eye-level changer.
His curve is his best off-speed pitch that he has exceptional depth on and mid-70s velocity with similar arm action to his fastball, which really throws off hitters. He was “aiming” the pitch in the majors, however, and it made it easier to pick up, but when he lets loose, the pitch is near impossible for a hitter to pick up and a true strikeout pitch for him.
Hoffman works in the lower part of the zone well with his slider and change, both of which have excellent late movement, so if he can keep it in the lower part of the zone (rather than trailing outside of the zone), he can get a lot of weak contact on the pitches for easy outs.
Overall, you’re looking at a guy who still has a front-line starter projection with his overall stuff, but he’s now 24 years old and his first exposure to the majors didn’t go all that well. He’ll get more shots for sure, though.
Next: #2