BALTIMORE – Top Toronto Blue Jays prospect Jeff Hoffman, the ninth overall pick in last year’s draft, will make his pro debut May 20 with single-A Dunedin versus Tampa.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos confirmed the looming placement Monday, a key step as the 22-year-old crosses the one-year anniversary of his Tommy John surgery Thursday, when he makes his final rehab outing.
The 6-4, 220-pound right-hander is slated to pitch four innings in that outing, and will then be given an extra day of rest before taking the mound for Dunedin, where he’ll be scheduled for five frames.
Hoffman’s been enjoying a near seamless recovery from the elbow surgery. In recent extended spring outings he’s been sitting at 95 mph and touching 98-99, hitting on his curveball, slider and changeup, too.
Once activated, how quickly Hoffman progresses through the Blue Jays system depends fully on his performance – there will be no extra measures in place to protect him, so he’ll be treated like any other healthy pitcher.