The Toronto Blue Jays’ rollercoaster bullpen season hit a new low on Saturday night, and Jeff Hoffman now owns a piece of franchise history for all the wrong reasons.
With the score tied 1–1 entering the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers, Hoffman gave up back-to-back home runs to Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich. He later surrendered another run, which pushed the Brewers ahead 4–1 and handed Toronto its 69th loss of the season. The outing raised his ERA to 5.11 and created a record the Jays would rather forget: the most home runs allowed in the ninth inning or later by a pitcher in a single season. Sportsnet Stats reported that Hoffman has now given up 12 in those situations, breaking the previous team mark.
A Season Defined by Contradictions
Hoffman’s first year in Toronto has become a paradox. On one hand, he has delivered stability when the Blue Jays needed someone to close games, converting 29 saves while striking out 75 hitters in just over 56.1 innings. His fastball-splitter mix has overpowered plenty of lineups, and at times, he has looked like the closer the front office envisioned.
On the other hand, the long ball has consistently undone him. He has allowed 14 home runs overall, the highest total of his career as a reliever. That flaw has turned too many close games into late-night heartbreakers at Rogers Centre.
“I don’t want to be the guy who ruins it for everybody for the night,” Hoffman said after the game. “We’ve got a lot of guys trying really hard in there. Tomorrow’s a new day.”
His words reflect both the determination and the fragility inside Toronto’s bullpen.
Manager John Schneider faced the inevitable question after the loss: Is Hoffman still the closer?
“He’s got 29 saves. He’s shown he can do it,” Schneider told reporters, including MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson. “We’ve got to figure out, not just him but multiple guys, their strike-throwing and locating. We’re going to make the best decision for everyone to try to win every single night.”
Schneider’s answer highlights the reality of a staff running out of options. Since the All-Star break, the Blue Jays’ bullpen has posted the second-worst ERA in the majors and walked batters at one of the highest rates. Injuries and inconsistency have stretched the group thin, and Schneider has leaned heavily on Hoffman despite the risks.
Toronto’s front office expected Hoffman to anchor a late-inning trio that could shorten games, but the results have been shakier. Every high-leverage outing feels like a coin flip between dominant strikeouts and damaging mistakes.
What It Means for the Blue Jays
For a team barely on top of the AL East, the margin for error keeps shrinking. The Jays can’t afford more blown saves if they hope to mount a late push, yet no clear alternative offers greater reliability.
The record stands as a reminder of missed opportunities. For Hoffman, it shows how quickly fortunes can shift in baseball. He has saved nearly 30 games, yet the defining storyline has become his home run total. For the Blue Jays, it underscores the urgency of their bullpen issues.
Toronto still has a month to salvage hope, but Hoffman’s leash just got shorter. If he fails to control the long ball, the Blue Jays’ division pennant dream may disappear with every swing that clears the fence.
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