Reds: Ranking the most likely replacements for injured starter Wade Miley

4. Jeff Hoffman, Reds right-handed pitcher

Jeff Hoffman was an interesting addition to the Cincinnati Reds organization this offseason. Nick Krall and the front office decided to ship former first-round pick Robert Stephenson and outfield prospect Jameson Hannah to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Hoffman and pitching prospect Case Williams.

That trade, in my mind, was all about a change in scenery for both Hoffman and Stephenson. The Reds were unlikely to tender Stephenson a contract, and Hannah was buried in the team’s minor league system behind the likes of Michael Siani and TJ Friedl. Cincinnati was also able to snag Williams, who has the potential to be a very good pitcher down the road.

As for Hoffman, the former first-round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays has struggled to find success at the big league level. The right-hander is 10-16 lifetime with a career-ERA of 6.40, however, Hoffman hit rock bottom last season going 2-1 with a 9.28 ERA in 16 relief appearances for Colorado.

Jeff Hoffman hasn’t started a game in the majors since 2019, going 2-6 with a 6.56 ERA that season for the Rockies. Hoffman has gone five innings thus far in Cactus League play, racking up four punch outs and walking just one batter to the tune of a 3.60 ERA. Hoffman, however, has the feel of a multiple-inning reliever rather than a starter.