FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina junior Jeff Hoffman, who ranks among the Conference USA leaders in strikeouts, will undergo season-ending surgery next week head coach Billy Godwin announced Wednesday afternoon.
The Latham, N.Y. native posted a 3-3 record with a 2.94 ERA in 10 starts this season, including double-digit strikeout totals against Western Kentucky (14) and a season-high 16 punch-outs against Middle Tennessee, which earned him Conference USA Pitcher-of-the-Week, Louisville Slugger National Player-of-the-Week and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Pitcher-of-the-Week honors.
Hoffman, who missed his last two starts due to arm soreness, will have the procedure performed by noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews.
“It was disappointing for all of us to hear the news regarding Jeff,” Godwin said. “After speaking with Jeff, he and his family have decided this is the best thing for him to do at this time. We are hopeful he will have a quick recovery and be back on the mound very soon. Jeff is one of our leaders on the field, inside the clubhouse and is a tremendous competitor who will definitely be missed.”
The right-hander finished his junior campaign with 72 strikeouts to 20 walks in 67.1 innings of work and held opponents to a .216 composite batting average. He allowed 26 runs (22 earned) on 53 hits and surrendered three or less earned runs in seven of 10 starts, while yielding no runs in his last start against Middle Tennessee.
Prior to the start of the season, Hoffman earned numerous preseason All-America honors, was named preseason All C-USA by the league’s head coaches and garnered a spot on the Golden Spikes Award Watch List for the nation’s top amateur baseball player.
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[…] on 5/7/14 that likely top-5 pick Jeff Hoffman, a RHP starter for East Carolina University, has a small tear in his UCL that will require Tommy John surgery (also reported here on PerfectGame and discussed on […]
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