John Schneider Had Words for Jeff Hoffman After Blue Jays’ Loss to White Sox originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Toronto Blue Jays fell 4-2 to the Chicago White Sox at Rogers Center on Sunday, dropping the rubber game of the three-game set and finishing their homestand at .500 (3-3). Chicago mounted a three-run rally in the eighth inning—including a double by Miguel Vargas—after Toronto’s offense had tied the game in the seventh.
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The loss was ultimately handed squarely on the shoulders of reliever Jeff Hoffman. The right-hander entered the eighth with a runner on and couldn’t field a routine grounder, allowing a run to score. Moments later, he surrendered the go‑ahead RBI double after also surrendered a walk to start the appearance.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23).John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
After the game, Blue Jays manager John Schneider didn’t hesitate to defend his reliever. In a strong message, Schneider communicated his faith in Hoffman.
“We trust the [expletive] out of Jeff Hoffman,” Schneider said. “I do. It’s easy to point blame at him, but he’s been on the other side of us winning a whole lot of games. It’s a tough stretch for him, but we know he’ll come out of it.”
Thus far in 2025, Hoffman has tallied 17 saves and struck out 44 batters—but carries a bloated 5.29 ERA and a WHIP of 1.11, with 20 runs allowed in his 34 appearances this season. After his All-Star campaign in 2024, his inconsistency has been a thorn in Toronto’s late-game hopes.
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Toronto’s situation could be improving soon, including a day off Monday followed by a West Coast trip. The Blue Jays open the next series on Tuesday in Cleveland, with Chris Bassitt expected to start—setting the tone while Hoffman works to regain his form
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.