The Philadelphia Phillies are riding a six-game winning streak after sweeping both the Minnesota Twins and Miami Marlins. Their recent run has helped them close the gap in the NL East, with Philadelphia now just 4.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves.
The Phillies have made significant progress since the trade deadline, but their bullpen remains an area of concern. Looking to strengthen their pitching depth, Philadelphia signed Nestor Cortes on Wednesday and followed that move by adding another pitcher to the roster just one day later.
The Philadelphia Phillies announced that they have claimed right-handed pitcher Andrew Hoffmann off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 26-year-old reliever will provide the Phillies with additional depth in their bullpen as they look to strengthen their pitching staff for the stretch run.
Diamondbacks, bringing in the 26-year-old reliever to act as some extra bullpen depth.
Phillies claim Diamondbacks 7.71 ERA reliever
“The Phillies have claimed RHP Andrew Hoffmann off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks and optioned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. To make room on the 40-man roster, INF/OF Felix Reyes was recalled from LHV and placed on the 60-day injured list with a right-wrist fracture,” the Phillies announced.
While the Felix Reyes news is unfortunate, the addition of Hoffmann is now one worth digging into. He’s not up with the MLB squad just yet, but he’s an interesting depth option down the stretch.
Hoffmann is a 26-year-old right-hander who has made his MLB debut already, pitching to a 6.85 ERA in 23.2 innings in his career, including a rough 7.71 ERA in 11.2 innings pitched this season.
In the minor leagues, Hoffmann has posted a 4.69 ERA across 407 innings. His numbers this season have been less impressive, as he recorded a 6.08 ERA over 12 appearances and 13.1 innings at Triple-A.
Hoffmann was once regarded as a top pitching prospect in the Kansas City Royals organization, similar to Jonathan Bowlan. While he may not possess one standout elite skill, he has developed into a relatively well-rounded pitcher capable of contributing in different situations.
Given the Phillies’ recent success developing and improving pitchers under Caleb Cotham, taking a low-risk chance on a former highly regarded pitching prospect makes sense. Since the move comes without requiring the team to give up a player in return, Hoffmann represents a worthwhile addition to Philadelphia’s bullpen depth.
