Matt Hoffman | P NEWS

• Full Name: Matthew C. Hoffman
  
• Born: November 8, 1988 in Owasso, OK
  
• Height: 6' 2''
  
• Weight: 225
  
• Bats: Left
  
• Throws: Left
  
• College: N/A
  

Biography

Resides in Owasso, OK during the off-season...Posted an 8-1 record as a senior at Owasso High School in 2007...fired a three-hit shutout to lead his school to a 1-0 win over Edmond Memorial High School for the school's ninth state championship...Participated in the Tigers Winter Caravan...Recommended/signed by Steve Taylor for the Tigers.


2008 Highlights

Made his professional debut with West Michigan, appearing in five games (two starts) with the club before his contract was transferred to Single A Oneonta for the remainder of the 2008 season on June 27...Posted a 2-2 record and 2.49 ERA (25.1IP/7ER) in five starts with Oneonta during August.


2009 Highlights

-Assigned to Single A West Michigan to begin the 2009 season, before he was promoted to Lakeland on May 15...

-Finished 3-0 with a 1.56 ERA (17.1IP/3ER) in four outings (one start) during April -- tied for second in the Midwest League with three wins during the month, while he finished seventh with a 1.56 ERA...

-Went the distance in his first outing with Lakeland, tossing a six-hit shutout in the second game of a doubleheader on May 21 at Tampa -- tied for second in the Florida State League with one shutout...

-Sidelined August 5-22 with a left shoulder strain.


2010 Highlights

-Appeared in 45 games as he saw action with Single A Lakeland, Erie and Toledo during the 2010 season...

-Assigned to Lakeland to begin the season -- appeared in 16 games with the Flying Tigers before his contract was transferred to Erie on May 26...

-Had his contract transferred from Erie to Toledo on June 11 -- made three appearances with the Mud Hens before his contract was transferred back to Erie for the remainder of the season on June 23...

-Named the 16th-best prospect in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America...

-Appeared in nine games with Surprise in the Arizona Fall League following the season, posting a 7.27 ERA (8.2IP/7ER), one save and nine strikeouts.


2011 Highlights

-Spent the majority of the 2011 season with Triple A Toledo, finishing second on the staff with 49 appearances...

-Assigned to Double A Erie to begin the season, appearing in one game before his contract was transferred to Toledo for the remainder of the season on April 8...

-Did not allow a run in nine straight outings April 24-May 17, tossing 11.0 scoreless innings...

-Fanned a season-high four batters on July 17 versus Scranton/Wilkes-Barre...

-Sidelined July 24-August 3 with a left hamstring strain...

-Did not allow a run over his final 10 appearances of the season August 14-September 5, tossing 14.0 scoreless innings...

-Named the 16th-best prospect in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America...

-Saw action in two games with Salt River in the Arizona Fall League following the season, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings.

12/10/12Detroit Tigers designated LHP Matt Hoffman for assignment.

12/19/12Detroit Tigers sent Matt Hoffman outright to Toledo Mud Hens.

Tigers Press Release

12/19/2012 1:20 PM ET
Adam Wilk’s contract sold by the Tigers to Korea
Detroit Outrighted the Contract of Matt Hoffman to Triple A Toledo

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has released lefthanded pitcher Adam Wilk after his contract was sold by the organization to a team in the Korean Baseball League. Additionally, the club has outrighted the contract of lefthanded pitcher Matt Hoffman to Triple A Toledo.

Wilk, 25, suffered the loss in all three of his starts with the Tigers during the 2012 season, compiling an 8.18 ERA (11.0IP/10ER). He posted a 7-11 record, 2.77 ERA (149.2IP/46ER) and 128 strikeouts in 24 starts with Triple A Toledo this past season.

He finished 0-3 with a 6.66 ERA (24.1IP/18ER) in eight outings (three starts) during his two seasons with the Tigers (2011-12). Selected by the Tigers in the 11th round of the June 2009 draft, Wilk has compiled a 30-23 record, 2.66 ERA (493.1IP/146ER) and 385 strikeouts in 83 starts during his minor league career with the organization.

Hoffman, 24, finished 1-2 with a 3.69 ERA (46.1IP/19ER) and 32 strikeouts in 43 appearances as he spent the entire 2012 season with Triple A Toledo.

Matt Hoffman
2013 Rank: 14
ETA: 2013
Position: LHP
Age: 24, DOB: 11/08/1988
Bats: L, Throws: L
Height: 6' 2", Weight: 225
Drafted: 2007, 26th (811) - DET
Twitter: @Matt_Hoffman44
Scouting Grades* (present/future): Fastball: 5/5 | Slider: 4/5 | Changeup: 4/5 | Control: 4/5 | Overall: 4/5

Things were looking good for the big, strong lefty when he was added to the 40-man roster following the 2011 season, his first as a reliever in Triple-A. He turned in a solid, yet unspectacular season, year two in Toledo, and then was designated for assignment to make room for catcher Brayan Pena on the roster. He can be up to 93 mph with his fastball at times with decent movement. He mixes in a slider and changeup, both of which can be average and his ability to keep the ball down enables him to elicit groundball outs. Even though he’s not on the roster, he still has the chance to be an effective lefty out of a big league bullpen soon.

Top Prospects: Hoffman, DET

02/14/13
00:38

2013 MLB.com Top Prospects: Hoffman has the chance to be a useful lefty out of the pen at the big league level