Shaker High School graduate Jeff Hoffman was drafted Thursday with the ninth overall pick in the major league baseball draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.

The lanky East Carolina right-hander will miss approximately the next year after having Tommy John surgery in mid-May. The Blue Jays had two picks in the first round (No. 9 and No. 11) so taking a "risk" was certainly something they could afford to do.

Prior to the injury, Hoffman was thought to be a top-four pick, so the Jays could end up getting one of the top pitchers in the draft at that nine spot.

Hoffman was 3-3 with a 2.94 ERA this season before missing his last starts in April. He had 72 strikeouts in 67.1 innings.

He dominated in the Cape Cod summer league for the past two years, raising a lot of eyebrows and elevating his status.

He has a fastball that can reach 98 MPH and a plus-curveball. He can also mix in a changeup. Just a junior, Hoffman could choose to go back to ECU to try to move back up higher in the draft if he chooses.

Erick Fedde of UNLV was taken by the Nationals with the 18th pick just two days after having Tommy John.

Hoffman joined us just hours before the draft, and you can listen here.

 

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