Jeff Hoffman blew the opposing dugout a kiss after securing a crucial save against the team that rejected him months earlier.
Hoffman nailed down the final out Sunday in the bottom of the 10th inning, preserving a 7-6 Toronto Blue Jays win over the Baltimore Orioles. The celebration wasn’t random – it carried personal significance that made this particular save especially sweet.
This offseason, Hoffman had agreed to a three-year, $40 million deal with Baltimore. The contract never materialized because the Orioles pulled out after raising concerns with his physical. That’s how the former Rockies first-rounder landed with their AL East rival Blue Jays instead.
So when Hoffman found himself on the mound trying to close out those same Orioles in a tight game, the moment carried extra weight. His slider might’ve hung a bit on that final pitch, but it fooled the hitter – and that’s all that mattered.
Jeff Hoffman blew a kiss at the Orioles dugout after getting the win.
He agreed to a three-year, $40 million deal with Baltimore in the offseason before the O’s pulled out of the deal because of questions with his physical.pic.twitter.com/nJNDQGDdNp
— Ben Hall (@bhjournalist) April 13, 2025
It seems Hoffman had likely thought about how he’d celebrate such a moment. The kiss was a perfect punctuation mark – a bit of catharsis after the unexpected bump in his free agent journey.
The Blue Jays now have another solid bullpen piece that the Orioles could’ve had but don’t. That fact probably makes the celebration even sweeter for Toronto’s front office.
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