Matt Hoffman
| IP | 449 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.969 |
| WHIP | 1.439 |
| BB/9 | 3.608 |
| SO/9 | 7.296 |
- Full name Matthew C. Hoffman
- Born 11/08/1988 in Owasso, OK
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 224 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Owasso
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Drafted in the 26th round (811th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2007 (signed for $175,000).
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Matt Hoffman got exposure when scouts flocked to Owasso High games to see Pete Kozma. Owasso won the state 6-A title with a 1-0 victory, thanks to a solo homer from Kozma and a three-hit shutout from Hoffman. He entered the year known more as a center fielder, but pro teams now prefer him as an athletic lefthander who has touched 91-92 mph. His delivery and command need some work, and he may not be signable away from Oklahoma.
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An outfielder at Oklahoma powerhouse Owasso High, Hoffman got on the mound as a senior and ran his fastball up to 92 mph. He lasted until the 26th round of the 2007 draft because of his strong college commitment to Oklahoma, but he signed with the Tigers for $175,000. A full-time reliever since 2010, Hoffman added velocity with the move to the bullpen and now throws 90-95 mph fastballs from a low three-quarters arm slot. He has developed better feel for his slider, which has tight break and good tilt, though it can flatten out and leave him vulnerable to lefthanders. They batted .306 against him in Triple-A last season, and he'll have to do better to cut it in a major league bullpen. Hoffman also mixes in an effective changeup as well. He doesn't have the stuff to miss many bats, but his fastball and ability to keep the ball down allow him to induce groundouts. Hoffman still has somewhat of a crossfire delivery, but he has improved his direction to the plate. His command can waver when he peels off in his delivery, so he has worked to control his momentum going forward. Sent to the Arizona Fall League after the season, he had to leave with a tired arm. Detroit still added him to its 40-man roster and could give him his first big league callup in 2012. His ceiling isn't high, but he could become a useful lefty reliever. -
Hoffman got plenty of exposure at Oklahoma powerhouse Owasso High in 2007, when he played alongside Cardinals first-round pick Pete Kozma. Hoffman entered his senior year as a center fielder but showed good arm strength on the mound, getting up to 91-92 mph. Many teams worried about his strong commitment to Oklahoma, but the Tigers nabbed him with a 26th-round pick and a $175,000 bonus. The athletic Hoffman continues to develop as a pitcher, making that investment look worth while. He became a full-time reliever in 2010 after splitting time between the rotation and bullpen in his first two pro seasons. His velocity took off when he worked shorter stints, as Hoffman now sits at 93-95 mph with his fastball and can reach back to hit 97. He also has done a nice job of tightening his 82-85 mph slider, which has good tilt. He'll flash an occasional 85-mph changeup with some sink and fade, but it's mostly just a pitch to give hitters something else to think about. He clearly prefers his fastball-slider combination. Hoffman's body is a little soft, but he has an easy delivery and works fast. His control disintegrated and he got pounded after a promotion to Double-A last year, so he'll try again to solve that level in 2011.
