Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider praised former closer Jeff Hoffman’s attitude after he lost his job as the Jays’ ninth-inning man.
The Blue Jays stripped Hoffman of his closing duties last week after a rough start to the season, including three blown saves. With Hoffman out as the closer, the Blue Jays have adopted a closer-by-committee approach. However, to date, Louis Varland has received all three closing opportunities for the team, successfully converting them.
Speaking to reporters after the Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 3-0 on Tuesday night in Trey Yesavage’s successful return to the mound for the first time since the 2025 World Series, the Jays’ skipper praised Hoffman for his team-first attitude after losing his job as the team’s closer.
“(Hoffman) has handled this so well. Him and Louis have handled that so well. That’s not a slam dunk that every night it’s going to be Louis in the ninth inning. But they’ve both handled that so well, and I’m really, really proud of them. That sounds weird to say, they’re grown men, but I can’t speak highly enough of how they’ve handled it,” Schneider said. “That’s what we’re asking these guys to do. Come out and get a one-out save, get a one-inning save, turn it over to the next guy. They were all phenomenal tonight.”
Jeff Hoffman Has Been Excellent in a Middle-Relief Role
Since Hoffman lost his job as the Blue Jays’ stopper, he has been coming out of the bullpen for middle relief, and he’s done a great job. In two appearances since losing the closer’s role, Hoffman has pitched 2 innings and has given up 0 ER while allowing 0 hits and striking out 3. He seems to have found his footing in a less-stressful role, and the Blue Jays are happy to see it.
Combined with Tyler Rogers, who has posted a minuscule 0.59 ERA in 15 appearances for the Blue Jays so far, the team looks to be in great shape at the back-end of their bullpen. Throw in a strong start to the year for sophomore Braydon Fisher and combine it with the imminent return of veteran Yimi Garcia, and the Blue Jays seem to have cooked up something good for their pen.
Louis Varland Nails as Blue Jays Closer
Although Varland has not technically been named the Blue Jays’ closer, he has converted four save opportunities in the past week, including three after Hoffman lost his job. Given that Varland entered this season with zero career save opportunities, the fact that he has four in the past week is incredible, and it shows he has the mettle it takes to close out games in the major leagues. In 15 appearances this year, Varland has an incredible 0.56 ERA, and he is on track to represent the Blue Jays in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game if he can keep up this start.
The Blue Jays may still turn to others in the ninth inning to save games, especially if Varland has pitched the prior night or two, but so far, he appears to be running away with the job as the team’s closer.
John Schneider Praises Jeff Hoffman’s Attitude After Losing Closer Job