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Ranking the 10 most important Blue Jays for the 2025 season

The performance of these players will tell the story for the Blue Jays this season.
Boston Red Sox v Toronto Blue Jays
Boston Red Sox v Toronto Blue Jays | Mark Blinch/GettyImages
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5. Jeff Hoffman

Jeff Hoffman
Feb 14, 2025; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23) warms up during spring training at Cecil B. Englebert Complex. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

The Blue Jays picked Hoffman with the No. 9 pick in the 2014 MLB Draft, and now he finally gets a chance to play for the team after he signed with Toronto in the offseason. He and former Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano essentially flipped teams this offseason, as Hoffman signed with Toronto and Romano signed with the Phillies.

The 32-year-old is one of the best relief pitchers in the game and is coming off his first career All-Star nod with Philadelphia. He pitched to a 2.17 ERA and struck out 89 batters in 66 1/3 innings.

Hoffman's advanced stats were just as dominant as his counting stats. He was ranked in the 96th percentile in stikeout rate, whiff rate and chase rate, while his expected ERA (91st percentile) and expected batting average (90th percentile) were also both elite.

Hoffman will be vital at the back of the Blue Jays bullpen, and he'll open the season as the team's closer. After finishing 31st in team ERA last season, Hoffman will be a major part of getting Toronto's bullpen back on track.

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