Jun 6, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23) delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
PHILADELPHIA - Jeff Hoffman enjoyed his off day in Philadelphia on Thursday. He walked around the city. He got to have dinner with a few of his former teammates. But he didn't walk back into Citizens Bank Park for the first time until Friday afternoon.
"It feels like this is still home," he said.
Hoffman, who for many fans feels like is the one who got away this past offseason in a well-documented separation with the Phillies, is prepared for anything tonight as far as reactions go.
He'll be ready if they boo. He'll be ready if they taunt him in the visiting bullpen - something Phillies fans who stand along the railing in Ashburn Alley just above the bullpen are known for - but will he be ready for a warm ovation?
Jeff Hoffman on what type of reception he’s expecting to get whenever he enters a game during this series.
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/3WTFRnWAE9
"I'll do my best to keep (my emotions) in check, but no promises," he said. "I've seen the guys who have come back that have gotten positive receptions - like Rhys (Hoskins) - and obviously I saw how special that was for him.
"Even though my time here wasn't as long as he was here, or anything like that, this place does something special to each guy that puts on a Phillies uniform. I'm just excited to be back and be in the atmosphere again."
Hoffman is closing for the Toronto Blue Jays and has 17 saves so far this season, but overall his numbers aren't close to what they were in his time with the Phillies.
In 30 innings so far, Hoffman is 5-2 with a 5.70 ERA and a 1.100 WHIP.
Still, those numbers have been elevated by just a few bad outings. Overall, he's been solid for a Blue Jays team who is in the thick of the playoff race in the wide open American League.
For Hoffman, his career has come full circle in more ways than one. He was drafted by the Blue Jays but never pitched in a major league game for them, being traded to the Colorado Rockies as part of a deal for shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
Hoffman never had much success as a starter for the Rockies, and eventually was dealt to Cincinnati. The Reds converted him to a reliever, but then he got hurt, and ultimately was designated for assignment and elected free agency.
He signed with the Minnesota Twins before the 2023 season, but was released at the end of spring training.
The Phillies signed him to a minor-league deal three days later, and the first month of his season at Triple-A was not good.
But, the Phillies wanted a veteran arm to pitch to Bryce Harper as part of his rehab from Tommy John surgery, so they asked Hoffman to come down from Lehigh Valley.
Hoffman looked at it as an audition. A few days later, his contract was selected and for the next two years, Hoffman was arguably the Phillies best reliever, earning an All Star nod in 2024.
Pitching that batting practice reignited his career, and led to him signing a three-year, $39 million contract with Toronto.
"Those moments were a big part of my career and helped me get to the point where I am now," Hoffman said. "There were a lot of good times here."
Hoffman became really close with Matt Strahm. The two still talk regularly. It all began when they were catch partners during warmups one day in 2023. From that point forward, they never played catch with anyone else.
Hoffman said he now plays catch with one of Toronto's pitching coaches, but it's not the same.
"I don't know if anyone will ever - ever - come close to the catch partner that he was," Hoffman said of Strahm. "I miss playing catch with him."
And then there was his relationship with Orion Kerkering - who Hoffman kind of took under his wing.
I asked Jeff Hoffman about what reports Matt Strahm has given him on Orion Kerkering https://t.co/RVPYAhBUxM pic.twitter.com/2mtuvUiYLY
"Orion is great. He's still so young and it was cool to have a guy like that who is so talented and just kind of needed guiderails," Hoffman said. "Matt did the majority of it, but he's got a super bright future ahead of him and as long as we can guide him in the right direction, he's going to have a great career."
Kerkering said back in January that Hoffman said he would continue to check in on him and that the former Phillie told Kerkering to always listen to Strahm.
So has Kerkering been doing as he was told by his mentor?
"I get text messages here and there telling me to tell him (to listen)," Hoffman said. "I usually text back, 'it's not my problem any more.'"
