Could a pitch usage change be the reason for Jeff Hoffman's dominant 2025?

Jeff Hoffman's had quite a ride in his MLB career.

After posting a 6.50 ERA in his first five MLB seasons with the Colorado Rockies, Hoffman had solid showing in two seasons with the Reds (4.28 ERA) before turning into a shutdown reliever with Philadelphia Phillies in 2023 and '24.

Hoffman entered free agency on the back of an All-Star nod in that 2024 season, and signed a three-year, $33 million deal with the Blue Jays after nearly signing with the Orioles and Braves.

And so far this year, Hoffman's been lights out and has helped turn around a Toronto bullpen that had the second-worst ERA in baseball last year.

And, according to a new article, it seems like a pitch usage change could be the reason behind that turnaround.

Pitch usage is helping Hoffman in 2025

Earlier this week, Sportsnet's Nick Ashbourne published a story highlighting the differences in Hoffman's pitch usage in this season compared to last season, which offered some interesting insights into how the 32-year-old is attacked batters.

While Hoffman still throws the four pitches he's always thrown (four-seam fastball, split-finger, slider and sinker), he's using those pitches a lot differently compared to last year.

The biggest change is around Hoffman's splitter. After throwing the pitch just 12% of the time last year, he's thrown it 31.5% of the time this year, making it his No. 2 pitch behind his fastball.

He's also throwing it more to right-handed batters, and with greater success. He's already thrown his splitter 15 times to right-handed batters after using it 16 times against righties all last season.

That kind of change is a bit foreign in today's MLB, as Ashbourne pointed out.

"Pitchers are often reluctant to throw many off-speed pitches to same-handed opponents because they are slow and break in on hitters, theoretically making them easy to turn on and pull with authority. Hoffman and the Blue Jays seem willing to see if he can buck the conventional wisdom," he wrote.

That adjustment has also helped his other pitches. He's throwing his slider less (21.1% usage this year after being his most-used pitch in '24), but has yet to allow a hit with it. He also has a whiff rate of 58.3% on the pitch.

If hitters are gearing up for his splitter or fastball (.167 average against), then they'll have a harder time adjusting to his slider.

Hoffman's 2-0 and has allowed just two earned runs on six hits in 11 1/3 innings. He also has an impressive 1.59 ERA and 0.62 WHIP with 16 strikeouts and just one walk. Furthermore, he's a perfect 5-for-5 in save opportunities and had gone two innings in two of his appearances.

Those adjustments are also evident in his advanced statistics. Hoffman currently ranks in the 99th percentile in expected ERA, the 97th percentile in strikeout rate and the 95th percentile in walk rate.

Although it's only April, Hoffman has exceeded expectations in Toronto.