San Diego Padres Promote Legend Trevor Hoffman

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego,CA- The San Diego Padres have promoted legendary closer Trevor Hoffman as the Padres upper-level pitching coordinator for the 2014 season according to Padres.com Corey Brock. Hoffman’s role will include But this new role will focus on mentoring pitchers in the minor league and big league. Though Hoffman will be focused more on the pitchers in Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso. Hoffman’s role will also include being a special assistant to Padres general manager Josh Byrnes.

Trevor Hoffman joined the Padres’ front office as a special assistant following his retierment in 2010.

Hoffman told Padres.com Corey Brock that his new role with the Padres will be similar to his previous job.

"“It will be similar to before, where I’m in big league camp and available to the guys,” Hoffman said. “I’ll go back and forth once Minor League camp starts. It’s going to be a great opportunity. There’s a little of the unknown, and it’s going to be a learning process for me — like how do I communicate what I’m seeing to them, things like that.”"

San Diego Padres manager Bud Black, who managed Hoffman in 2007-08 , told Padres.com Corey Brock that he believes the role suits the former all-time saves leader.

"“This is something that I think is a great thing, because I think it’s going to get Trevor more involved on a daily basis,” Black said. “He’s going to be in contact more with our players, our upper-level pitchers. He will be in contact with our front office. He’s going to get [involved with] the big league team. I think it’s great."

Hoffman will have quite the amount of pitchers to mentor as the Padres head into next season with what may experts say is there most impressive crop of pitching talent in decades. From Top pitching prospects Matt Wisler and Max Fried to Burch Smith, Joe Wieland, Robbie Erlin, Leonel Campos, Joe Ross, Keyvius Sampson, Donn Roach, Casey Kelly and Walker Weickel.

With Pitchers and Catchers reporting to Spring Training with the Padres in 41 days, Hoffman can’t wait to be back in uniform, and embrace his new role.

"“I’m definitely excited about really being more integrally involved with guys pushing [toward] the big league level,” Hoffman said. “… It’s about finishing some guys off, filling their toolbox with more information, so that they can reach the Major League level.”"