Trevor Hoffman: San Diego Padres’ most hidden gem

Trevor Hoffman is San Diego Padres’ hidden gem, overshadowed by a Yankees’ great.

San Diego Padres retired closer, Trevor Hoffman, quietly collected 601 career regular season MLB saves, second to only New York Yankees’ legend Mariano Rivera (652).

Playing in a small market such as San Diego will allow you to slip through the cracks on a national level — unless your name is Tony Gwynn or Dave Winfield.

As an opposing team, if you heard this song blaring over the speakers in San Diego, you were in serious trouble.

Trevor Hoffman had one of the best seasons not only for a starting pitcher but a hurler in general, in 1998, where he was snubbed by the National League Cy Young voters in the process.

He converted 53 saves in 54 appearances, helping Mr. Padre Tony Gwynn guide the San Diego Padres to their second World Series appearance in team history.

He was more than just a flash in the pan, having a career that rivaled the more notable and recognizable Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees.

Speaking of the Yankees’ elite arm, what if I told you that Trevor Hoffman was nearly as good as Mariano Rivera? Now that I’ve let the dust settle from that bomb, let’s see how this is possible.

It’s often times those hidden gems, such as Trevor Hoffman, get overlooked by another dominant player within the same era, due to their national brand, which the Padres lack in comparison.

Trevor Hoffman was the Rivera of the National League, so let’s see how he measures up to the Yankees’ Hall of Famer.