{"id":111062,"date":"2025-12-20T22:28:47","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T03:28:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=111062"},"modified":"2025-12-20T22:28:47","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T03:28:47","slug":"blue-jays-moves-signify-belief-jeff-hoffman-closer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/12\/20\/blue-jays-moves-signify-belief-jeff-hoffman-closer\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Jays Moves Signify Belief in Their Current Closer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every Toronto Blue Jays fan remembers how the 2025 World Series ended, falling in extra innings to the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7. As the team looks to reverse its fortunes in 2026, a man who was at the forefront of major criticism for the loss can be key in helping the Blue Jays return to baseball\u2019s brightest stage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Toronto was two outs away from becoming champions for the first time since 1993, until Miguel Rojas<\/a> knocked a hanging slider from closer Jeff Hoffman<\/a> into the Blue Jays\u2019 bullpen to tie the game. Will Smith<\/a> homered two innings later, to give the Dodgers a 5-4 advantage, a lead they would not relinquish en route to becoming back-to-back champions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"New
Mar 21, 2025; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth inning during spring training at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Blue Jays Should Still Believe in Jeff Hoffman<\/h2>\n

Hoffman received major criticism for blowing the lead by giving up a home run, a problem he struggled with for the majority of the 2025 season. He allowed 15 home runs in the 2025 regular season, the most of any full-time closer and right at the top amongst all relievers in baseball. There is no denying that it was an issue, but lost in the frustration was how elite Hoffman was for large parts of the regular season and postseason.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Jeff Hoffman\u2019s FIP was a 4.90 this season because of the 1.99 HR\/9 he allowed.<\/p>\n

That came back to bite him at the worst possible time. pic.twitter.com\/rGKZgzpN2M<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Robbie Hyde (@gingersnaphyde) November 2, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n