Trevor Hoffman
From BR Bullpen
Trevor William Hoffman
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 205 lb.
- School University of Arizona
- Debut April 6, 1993
- Born October 13, 1967 in Bellflower, CA USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Trevor Hoffman is currently the leader on the all-time saves list with 591 at the end of the 2009 season. 552 of his saves have been recorded with the San Diego Padres. He is also the all-time leader in games finished, with 820.
Hoffman's fastball has lost 8-10 mph since the mid-1990s, but the speed of his change-up has dropped a like amount, and the two pitches remain indistinguishable out of his hand, allowing him to continue keeping hitters off balance. On September 24, 2006, he got a save against the Pirates to surpass Lee Smith as the all-time save king. he has kept piling on the saves since, keeping well-ahead of the second-place man on the list, Mariano Rivera. That surge came after missing almost all of the 2003 season after undergoing two shoulder surgeries. After pitching in only 9 games and not recording a single save that year, he was back in top form in 2004, saving 41 games with a 2.30 ERA.
On April 28, 2007, Hoffman broke the record for most games pitched for one team, held by Walter Johnson and Elroy Face, when he appeared in his 803rd game for the Padres. Hoffman ultimately appeared in 902 games for the Padres - before signing with the Milwaukee Brewers for the 2009 season - 100 more games than the previous record. That season, he also became the first pitcher in major league history to record 500 saves. However, the year ended on a sour note for him, as he blew two crucial save opportunities in the season's last three days; had he been successful in either, the Padres would have clinched the National League wild card. Instead, he gave up a two-strike, game-tying triple to Tony Gwynn Jr. of the Brewers with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning on September 29, then in the one-game playoff against the Colorado Rockies on October 1, he came in at the top of the 13th inning with an 8-6 lead, and proceeded to give up two doubles, a triple, an intentional walk and a sacrifice fly to Jamey Carroll to hand the postseason spot to the Rockies. Hoffman had arthroscopic surgery after the season to remove some bone chips from his right elbow. He was expected to be back by the beginning of 2008, and indeed saved another 30 games for the last-place Padres that year.
He is the Padres single season and career saves leader. He is also the career leader in games pitched and ERA. After the 2008 season, he left the Padres to join the Milwaukee Brewers, where he was immediately installed as the closer for the 2009 season. His steady presence in this key role was a factor in the Brewers overcoming serious problems with their starting pitchers to stay on top of the NL Central race in the season's first half before fading away after the All-Star Game, to which he was selected. He picked up 37 saves for his new team in 2009, with an ERA of 1.83.
He is the brother of Glenn Hoffman.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 7-time NL All-Star (1998-2000, 2002, 2006, 2007 & 2009)
- 2-time NL Reliever of the Year Award Winner (1996 & 1998)
- 2-time NL Rolaids Relief Award Winner (1998 & 2006)
- 2-time NL Saves Leader (1998 & 2006)
- 30 Saves Seasons: 14 (1995-2002 & 2004-2009)
- 40 Saves Seasons: 9 (1996, 1998-2001 & 2004-2007)
- 50 Saves Seasons: 1 (1998)
[edit] Records Held
- Saves, career, 591
- Saves, right-hander, career, 591
