Scouting the Draft: Jeff Hoffman

Sometimes when enough people discover a sleeper, they cease to be a sleeper and may even become overrated or overvalued.  That might be the case with RHP Jeff Hoffman who has been a relative unknown pitching for East Carolina the last 2 college seasons, but has made a name for himself with exciting velocity readings and good performances in the Cape Cod League.

Hoffman has the perfect pitcher's size at 6'4", 190-200 lbs.  His FB reportedly sits 94-97 MPH and has touched 98 and he has good secondary stuff to back it up.  He maintains velocity deep into games and averaged over 7 innings per start this last college season.  This summer in the CCL, he had 33 K's against just 5 BB in 24.1 IP.  Here are his college stat lines where his performance has not quite kept up with his scouting reports:

2012  3-2, 3.67, 73.2 IP, 21 BB, 55 K.
2013  6-7, 3.20, 109.2 IP, 39 BB, 84 K.

BLF has him ranked #2 overall.  Matt Garrioch of Minor League Ball also has him ranked #2 overall.  BA also has him ranked at #2.

I'm alway a bit leery of guys with great scouting reports who don't get it done on the field, although Hoffman's college numbers aren't terrible, and the Giants have never let a questionable stat line get in the way of drafting a pitcher they really like.  How he performs in his junior season may have a big impact on where he is drafted.  Of course, if he goes #2 overall, then this discussion is academic for the Giants, but if another team takes him that high, it just pushes another players who I might like better down to the Giants.