Blue Jays Manager Stands By Struggling Closer Jeff Hoffman After Tough Loss

Toronto skipper John Schneider expresses confidence in Hoffman despite recent struggles and a blown save against the Diamondbacks.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 4:25pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the motion of a baseball pitcher, with sharp planes of navy, green, and red overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract representation of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a Blue Jays pitcher's delivery captures the tension and pressure of a struggling closer trying to regain his form.Baltimore Today

The Toronto Blue Jays suffered a tough 6-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, with closer Jeff Hoffman giving up a grand slam in the 8th inning to blow the game open. Despite Hoffman's struggles this season, including blowing a save in his last outing, Blue Jays manager John Schneider expressed unwavering support for the embattled reliever, saying 'I'll take Jeff Hoffman' when asked about the closer role going forward.

Why it matters

The Blue Jays have gotten off to a disappointing start this season, dropping their sixth consecutive series. Hoffman's struggles in the bullpen have been a major factor, and the team's decision to stick with him as closer will be closely watched as they try to turn things around and get back to the World Series.

The details

Hoffman surrendered a grand slam in the 8th inning of Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Diamondbacks, his second blown save in as many outings. The right-hander has struggled mightily to start the year, posting a 7.71 ERA with 13 hits allowed and 20 strikeouts in less than 10 innings of work. Despite the poor performance, Blue Jays manager John Schneider expressed confidence in Hoffman, saying 'I have a lot of confidence in Jeff Hoffman' and 'I'll take Jeff Hoffman' when asked about the closer role.

  • On Saturday, April 19, 2026, Hoffman gave up a grand slam in the 8th inning of the Blue Jays' 6-2 loss to the Diamondbacks.
  • Hoffman also blew a save in his previous outing.

The players

John Schneider

The manager of the Toronto Blue Jays who expressed confidence in struggling closer Jeff Hoffman despite his recent struggles.

Jeff Hoffman

The Toronto Blue Jays' closer who has struggled to start the 2026 season, posting a 7.71 ERA and blowing two saves in his first 10 innings of work.

Max Scherzer

A prominent starting pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays who publicly supported Hoffman, saying 'We all believe in him' and 'We all love him.'

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What they’re saying

“I have a lot of confidence in Jeff Hoffman. I feel for him right now because he's going through it. I get it; when you're in that spot, it gets magnified, and that's part of it. He's man enough to handle it.”

— John Schneider, Blue Jays Manager

“I'll take Jeff Hoffman.”

— John Schneider, Blue Jays Manager

“We all believe in him. We all love him. We all believe he's going to figure it out and get big outs for us. That's never going to change.”

— Max Scherzer

What’s next

The Blue Jays will continue to monitor Hoffman's performance in the closer role as they try to turn their season around. The team's confidence in him could be tested if the struggles continue.

The takeaway

Despite Hoffman's recent struggles, the Blue Jays are standing by their embattled closer, with manager John Schneider and star pitcher Max Scherzer both voicing public support. However, the team's patience may wear thin if Hoffman is unable to turn things around and provide stability in the bullpen as the Blue Jays look to get back to the World Series.