PHILADELPHIA — Jeff Hoffman settled into the visitors’ dugout at Citizens Bank Park on Friday afternoon, ready to address reporters and talk about Philadelphia. The reliever had an off day on Thursday to explore the city, get dinner with former teammates and reflect on his two seasons with the Phillies before coming back to the ballpark for the first time since last year.
And even though he’s swapped his red pinstripes for Blue Jays blue, Hoffman wasn’t shy about what Philly means to him.
“It feels like this is still home,” Hoffman said.
A failed starter with the Rockies and Reds earlier in his career, Hoffman put it together out of the bullpen with the Phillies in 2023 and 2024, emerging as one of the better relievers in the major leagues and changing the course of his career.