Hoffman Makes Strong First Impression

DENVER—Righthander Jeff Hoffman is in his first big league camp as a non-roster invitee, giving manager Walt Weiss and his coaches their initial look at the centerpiece acquisition in the July trade that sent Troy Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays.

“I think the first thing that stands out is his body,” player development director Zach Wilson said of Hoffman, 23, who is 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds. “It’s a big league pitcher’s body. There’s strength to it but still athleticism and balance.

“He’s eventually going to have plus command as he continues to throw innings, gains experience and tightens up the delivery a little bit.”

In addition to a 94-96 mph fastball, Hoffman has a power curveball that Wilson termed “the best in our organization in terms of spin and break and tilt and bite.” It’s a 76-79 mph pitch with an 11-to-5 break that Hoffman uses in any count.

He has very good arm speed with developing action on his changeup, which Wilson said “certainly has a pretty good chance of being plus, and it may end up even being better than that.”

Drafted ninth overall out of East Carolina in 2014, Hoffman had Tommy John surgery just before the draft and didn’t make his professional debut until May 20 last year with high Class A Dunedin.

Hoffman’s four-pitch mix will be more evident this year as he incorporates his slider into his arsenal.

“That’s the last pitch that will come all the way back,” Wilson said. “He was starting to throw it in some bullpens and a few times in a game, but we were holding that pitch back a little bit. So that’s going to be fully unleashed this year, too.”

ROCKY ROADS

• Other non-roster prospects in their first major league camp include pitchers Kyle Freeland, Sam Moll, Harrison Musgrave, Matt Carasiti, Shane Carle and Nelson Gonzalez, catcher Dom Nunez, third baseman Ryan McMahon and outfielders David Dahl, Jordan Patterson, Michael Tauchman and Noel Cuevas.

• John Shelby, a big league coach the past 18 years with four clubs, was hired as the hitting coach at Triple-A Albuqerque. Scott Little (short-season Boise) and Tim Doherty (Rookie-level Grand Junction) were also hired as hitting coaches.