HUGE BOOST: The Phillies Land Another Highly Gifted Star In Blockbuster Deal

The Phillies announced on Wednesday that they’ve acquired right-handed pitcher Nolan Hoffman from the Rangers in exchange for cash considerations. Although Hoffman wasn’t on Texas’ 40-man roster, Philadelphia immediately added him to theirs and assigned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. While he won’t join the Phillies’ bullpen right away, the roster move positions him as a potential big league call-up in the near future.

Hoffman, 27, was originally drafted by the Mariners in the fifth round of the 2018 draft. He joined the Orioles organization via the minor league portion of the 2021 Rule 5 Draft. After becoming a free agent following the 2024 season, he signed a minor league deal with Texas before being traded to the Phillies, who could soon offer him his first shot at the majors.

Known for his submarine-style delivery, Hoffman adds a unique element to Philadelphia’s bullpen depth. However, his time with the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate in 2025 has been rocky. He’s struck out 29% of opposing batters in 35 innings but has also walked 13.2% and posted a 5.91 ERA. A high .321 BABIP and a low 66.8% strand rate have contributed to his struggles, despite allowing relatively weak contact — an 85.7 mph average exit velocity and a 28.2% hard-hit rate.

Before this season, Hoffman had stronger performances in the Orioles’ system. In 2023, he posted a 3.05 ERA over 44 1/3 innings at the Double-A and Triple-A levels. He followed that up in 2024 with a 3.88 ERA and a personal-best 28.2% strikeout rate across 58 Triple-A innings.

 

2 LHPs with MLB experience on the move in Texas Rangers' latest round of  roster cuts

 

Hoffman typically generates a high volume of ground balls, though his 44.6% ground-ball rate in 2025 is only slightly above league average. This dip might be linked to adjustments made by the Rangers’ player development team. He still relies heavily on his sinker, which has increased in average velocity from 91.9 to 93.3 mph. He’s also started mixing in a new cutter, while decreasing his use of the curveball and changeup. While Hoffman may not solve all of Philadelphia’s bullpen issues, he gives the team another arm to consider as they approach a trade deadline where bullpen upgrades are expected to be a priority for president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.

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