Phillies Trade for Pitcher Nolan Hoffman from Texas Rangers

The Philadelphia Phillies have strengthened their pitching lineup by acquiring Nolan Hoffman, a 27-year-old right-handed pitcher, from the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. This marks the second trade between the two teams this season, with the Phillies opting to enhance their organizational depth.

Hoffman’s contract has been selected, placing him on the Phillies' 40-man roster, which now stands at its full capacity. Following the acquisition, he has been optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Originally drafted in the fifth round by the Seattle Mariners in 2018, Hoffman transitioned to the Rangers in December. During his time with the Triple-A Round Rock Express, he made 22 appearances, including three starts, posting a 5.91 ERA while striking out 46 batters and issuing 21 walks over 35 innings. Although he participated in Rangers spring training as a non-roster invitee, he did not secure a spot on Texas's major league roster.

Known for his low arm slot delivery, Hoffman typically generates groundballs effectively. This season at Triple-A, he recorded a 44.6% groundball rate alongside a 34.9% flyball rate, a notable decrease from his previous four seasons where he averaged a 58.7% groundball rate.

Earlier this season, on May 1, the Phillies also acquired Daniel Robert, a 30-year-old pitcher from the Rangers. Robert has primarily played with the IronPigs but has made two brief appearances in the majors, facing six batters and allowing one hit and one run while walking three over two-thirds of an inning.

This strategic move reflects the Phillies' ongoing commitment to enhancing their pitching staff as they navigate through the season.