For the second time this year, the Philadelphia Phillies have bolstered their pitching depth with a trade involving the Texas Rangers. On Wednesday, the Phillies acquired right-hander Nolan Hoffman, age 27, from the Rangers in exchange for cash considerations.
Following the trade, Hoffman was added to Philadelphia’s 40-man roster and immediately optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. This move fills the final spot on the Phillies’ 40-man roster.
Originally a fifth-round pick by the Seattle Mariners in 2018 out of Texas A&M, Hoffman joined the Rangers in December. This season, he made 22 appearances (three starts) for Triple-A Round Rock Express, posting a 5.91 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 21 walks over 35 innings. Though he attended spring training with the Rangers as a non-roster invitee, he did not make the major league squad.
Hoffman is known for his low arm-slot delivery, which typically results in ground balls. So far this year, he has a 44.6% groundball rate and a 34.9% flyball rate, both declines from his career average 58.7% groundball rate over the past four seasons.
This move follows the Phillies’ May 1 trade for Daniel Robert, a 30-year-old right-hander also from the Rangers. Robert has mainly pitched for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but has made two brief appearances in the majors, facing six batters and allowing one hit, one run, and three walks in two-thirds of an inning.
