Sunday, July 22, 2018

Your 1981 Red Sox Pt. 11: Glenn Hoffman

In this series, I will look at each player who played in 1981, the year I was born. Because, why not?
Later this month Trevor Hoffman will be delivering a speech to commemorate his induction into the Hall of Fame.  The (much) older brother of Trevor Hoffman was also a baseball player, though unlike Trevor, Glenn Hoffman will never make it to Cooperstown without buying a ticket.  

Glenn Hoffman was actually picked higher in the Draft than his brother, being selected by the Red Sox in the second round of the 1976 Draft out of high school.  His younger brother was just nine years old at that time.  Hoffman made it to the Majors fairly quickly for someone selected out of high school, becoming a Major League regular in 1980 and turning in a fairly decent season, hitting .285/.326/.397, but with no real power.  He spent the vast majority of the season at third base, taking over for the injured Butch Hobson.  
Boston acquired Carney Lansford to take over third base in 1981, so Hoffman was going to be unable to play that position.  He was moved to shortstop where he would spend most of the rest of his career.  Unfortunately, Hoffman took a major step backwards at the plate in 1981, hitting just .231/.271/.285 with just one home run, 10 doubles, and 20 RBIs.  His fielding at his natural position was decent, though he made 15 errors, third in the league.  

Hoffman would stay in Boston into the 1987 season.  He was the primary shortstop for a couple more seasons, but he would never be much of a hitter.  His best season with the stick was in 1985 when he hit .276/.343/.416 with six home runs, 34 RBIs, and 17 doubles in 96 games.  He had to win his job back from Jackie Gutierrez that year (though admittedly that was not that difficult).  Hoffman was injured for most of the 1986 season and lost his starting job.  He was shipped to the Dodgers in August of 1987.  He later played for the Angels and last appeared in the Majors in 1989.
Glenn's entire career was over the same season that younger brother Trevor was drafted.  

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