Topic: Trevor Hoffman

Trevor William Hoffman (born October 13, 1967) is a retired American Major League Baseball (MLB) right-handed relief pitcher. During his 18-year career from 1993 to 2010, he pitched for the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and the Milwaukee Brewers, spending 15 1⁄2 years of his career with the Padres. A long-time closer, he is the Major Leagues' all-time leader in saves with 601, having broken the previous record of 478 held by Lee Smith. He was the first player ever to reach the 500- and 600-save milestones.

Hoffman played shortstop collegiately at the University of Arizona, where he displayed a strong arm, and was drafted in the 11th round by the Cincinnati Reds. After not having much success batting, Hoffman was converted from an infielder to a pitcher, throwing up to 95 miles per hour (mph). The Marlins, an MLB expansion team in 1993, drafted him from the Reds. After making his MLB debut that year in Florida's inaugural season, Hoffman was traded mid-season to the Padres in a trade that sent All-Star third baseman Gary Sheffield to the Marlins. Though initially unpopular with Padres fans, Hoffman became the face of the franchise after Tony Gwynn's retirement. He claimed the closer role in 1994 and recorded 20 saves that year. He maintained the role for the Padres for the next 14 years while recording at least 30 saves each year, except for 2003 when he missed most of the year recovering from two shoulder surgeries. After the Padres retracted their contract offer to him before the 2009 season, Hoffman pitched the last two years of his career with the Brewers before retiring after the 2010 season.

Hoffman was selected to the All-Star Game seven times, and twice he was the runner-up for the National League (NL) Cy Young Award. He retired with MLB records of fifteen 20-save seasons, fourteen 30-save seasons (including eight consecutive), and nine 40-save seasons (including two streaks of four consecutive). He also retired with the highest career strikeout rate of any reliever (minimum 1,000 innings pitched). Though he entered the majors with a powerful fastball, an injury after the 1994 season permanently sapped Hoffman's fastball velocity and forced him to reinvent his pitching style; he subsequently developed one of the best changeups in baseball. "It's a tough situation throwing a change-up in the ninth inning, unless you've got Trevor's changeup," closer Billy Wagner said. Hoffman is considered likely to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, where only five other relievers have been inducted.