Minnesota Twins Provide Offseason Injury Update on Jeff Hoffman

Jeff Hoffman just underwent surgery on his right elbow, but the Minnesota Twins are not expecting it to cost him too much time in 2027.

Hoffman underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow earlier this week to remove a bone chip and clean up the joint through debridement.

Dan Hayes of The Athletic reported that Hoffman will stop throwing for eight weeks before beginning a throwing program, putting him on track to resume throwing in late December. If the recovery holds, he will have time to build up before spring training.

The 33-year-old was placed on the 15-day injured list in late September with right forearm inflammation. He shut down rather than pitch through the discomfort, and further evaluation uncovered the bone chip that required surgery. It ended what had been a strong stretch with Minnesota after arriving in a trade from the Toronto Blue Jays in August.

Hoffman’s numbers with the Twins were encouraging. In 20 appearances after the trade, he posted a 2.50 ERA and struck out 27 batters in 18 innings.

Across the full season between Toronto and Minnesota, he went 6-8 with a 3.55 ERA, 102 strikeouts in 66 innings, and six saves. He is under contract through 2027 on the three-year, $33 million deal he signed with Toronto before the 2025 season.

Hoffman recorded 33 saves with Toronto in 2025 and was an All-Star with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2024, when he posted a 2.17 ERA across 68 appearances. He has proven he can handle high-leverage situations when right.

The Twins need him at his best. Minnesota finished 77-85 in 2026, third in the AL Central. The bullpen was one of the team’s biggest weaknesses, blowing 21 saves. Hoffman gives the organization a proven arm already on the books.

That is huge heading into an offseason where the bullpen needs work regardless of what else happens.

The surgery does not guarantee an Opening Day return. Eight weeks of no throwing followed by a ramp-up program leaves a narrow window before spring training begins. Minnesota will need to monitor his progress carefully and avoid rushing him back before he is ready.

If Hoffman follows the expected timetable and comes back healthy, he slots into one of the more important roles in the Twins bullpen. There is even a chance he is named the team's closer.

The organization cannot afford another lost season in the ninth inning. A healthy Hoffman in 2027 is one of the cleaner solutions to a problem that has lingered in Minnesota since trading Jhoan Duran to the Phillies.