Jamie Hoffman
Encyclopedia
Jamie Jerome Hoffmann is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
for the Los Angeles Dodgers
organization.
in the eighth round, was signed as an undrafted free agent
by the Dodgers in 2003 out of New Ulm High School
and assigned to the Gulf Coast Dodgers
where he was an All-Star third baseman during the 2004 season, hitting .310 for the team.
He then switched to the outfield in 2005 while playing for the Columbus Catfish
and Vero Beach Dodgers. In 2007 he played for the Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino
, and in 2008 for the Jacksonville Suns
. The Dodgers added him to their 40 man roster prior to the 2009 season.
Hoffmann participated in the 2008 Arizona Fall League
season with the Surprise Rafters
.
He began 2009 in Double-A with the Chattanooga Lookouts
and was then promoted to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
. On May 22, he was called up to the Los Angeles Dodgers
when reserve outfielder Xavier Paul
was placed on the disabled list
. He made his MLB debut, flying out as a pinch hitter
, the same day.
Hoffmann's first Major League hit was a three-run home run in the 2nd inning against Matt Palmer
of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
on May 24. He played in 14 games with the Dodgers and then was optioned back to the Minors. He was designated for assignment on September 1 and then released by the Dodgers after clearing waivers. He was shortly resigned and sent back to Albuquerque.
Hoffmann was selected as the first overall pick in the 2009 Rule 5 Draft
by the Washington Nationals
on December 10, but was immediately traded to the New York Yankees
as the final part of the Brian Bruney
deal, as the player to be named later. On March 22, Hoffmann was returned to the Dodgers and assigned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
, where he hit .310 in 139 games. He was then added to the Dodgers 40-man winter roster, which protected him from being lost in the 2010 Rule V Draft.
He appeared in two games with the Dodgers in April, 2011 during a brief appearance in the Majors and was 0-4 before being optioned back to Albuquerque. With the Isotopes, he appeared in 133 games, hitting .297 with 22 home runs and 84 RBI.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
organization.
Baseball career
Hoffmann, a former hockey prospect selected in the 2003 NHL Draft by the Carolina HurricanesCarolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
in the eighth round, was signed as an undrafted free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the Dodgers in 2003 out of New Ulm High School
New Ulm High School
New Ulm High School is a public high school located in New Ulm, Minnesota. The high school itself has an enrollment of approximately 750 students. Founded in 1857, it is currently located at 414 South Payne Street...
and assigned to the Gulf Coast Dodgers
Gulf Coast Dodgers
The Arizona League Dodgers are the Rookie Level minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They were formerly known as the Gulf Coast Dodgers and played in Vero Beach, Florida, at Dodgertown . Dodgertown includes Holman Stadium, which is also the former spring training home to the Brooklyn...
where he was an All-Star third baseman during the 2004 season, hitting .310 for the team.
He then switched to the outfield in 2005 while playing for the Columbus Catfish
Columbus Catfish
The Columbus Catfish were a minor league baseball team in Columbus, Georgia. They were a Class A team in the South Atlantic League, and were an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays since September 29, 2006. The Catfish relocated to Bowling Green, Kentucky for the 2009 season.The Catfish played home...
and Vero Beach Dodgers. In 2007 he played for the Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino
Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino
The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino are a minor league baseball team in San Bernardino, California, United States. They are the Class A – Advanced affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and play in the California League...
, and in 2008 for the Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
. The Dodgers added him to their 40 man roster prior to the 2009 season.
Hoffmann participated in the 2008 Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
season with the Surprise Rafters
Surprise Rafters
The Salt River Rafters are a baseball team that plays in the West Division of the Arizona Fall League. They play their home games at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick near Scottsdale, Arizona....
.
He began 2009 in Double-A with the Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
and was then promoted to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
. On May 22, he was called up to the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
when reserve outfielder Xavier Paul
Xavier Paul
Xavier Brooks Paul, Jr. is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent.-Early life:...
was placed on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
. He made his MLB debut, flying out as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
, the same day.
Hoffmann's first Major League hit was a three-run home run in the 2nd inning against Matt Palmer
Matt Palmer
Jonathan Matthew "Matt" Palmer is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed...
of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
on May 24. He played in 14 games with the Dodgers and then was optioned back to the Minors. He was designated for assignment on September 1 and then released by the Dodgers after clearing waivers. He was shortly resigned and sent back to Albuquerque.
Hoffmann was selected as the first overall pick in the 2009 Rule 5 Draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
by the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
on December 10, but was immediately traded to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
as the final part of the Brian Bruney
Brian Bruney
Brian Anthony Bruney is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals, and Chicago White Sox....
deal, as the player to be named later. On March 22, Hoffmann was returned to the Dodgers and assigned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
, where he hit .310 in 139 games. He was then added to the Dodgers 40-man winter roster, which protected him from being lost in the 2010 Rule V Draft.
He appeared in two games with the Dodgers in April, 2011 during a brief appearance in the Majors and was 0-4 before being optioned back to Albuquerque. With the Isotopes, he appeared in 133 games, hitting .297 with 22 home runs and 84 RBI.