San Diego Padres: Hoffman Should be Inducted into HOF in 2017

Now that Trevor Hoffman is officially on the hall of fame ballot for the second consecutive year, it is time for the San Diego Padres legend to be inducted.

The San Diego Padres have had several incredible players throughout their history. Besides Tony Gwynn though, no player who spent the bulk of his career with San Diego quite measures up to Trevor Hoffman.

Now, Hoffman has the opportunity to become the tenth Hall of Fame inductee in Padres’ history. And while it isn’t a given that the legendary closer will be inducted this year, he certainly deserves the honor.

Last year, Hoffman was on the ballot for the first time, and came up just shy of being voted in. He received 67.3% of the vote, but being inducted requires 75%. This year, there is a good chance this changes, as it should.

After all, Hoffman enjoyed a prosperous 18 year career, playing for only three major league clubs. His career ERA of 2.87 speaks to his consistency throughout each of his 1089 and 1/3 innings. Most of all, his 601 career saves reflect his dominance in the back end of the bullpen.

Leading the league in saves in 1998 and 2006, Hoffman was regarded as one of the best if not the best late inning reliever in baseball. Most impressively however is just how consistent Hoffman was throughout his career. 552 saves of his career 601 came in a Padres uniform, as did six of his seven all-star seasons.

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Now, his focus shifts towards being selected to join this prestigious group. Now 49, Hoffman would be the second longest tenured Padre to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Only Gwynn, who spent 20 seasons in a San Diego uniform, tops Hoffman’s 15 prosperous years.

Sooner or later, one of the best closers of all time will be voted into the Hall of Fame. Assuming Hoffman receives more than 5% of the upcoming vote, he will be placed on the ballot once again in 2018 if he isn’t inducted this year. Coming less than 8% short of a trip to Cooperstown in 2016, his first year on the ballot, it seems that it is a matter of when and not if for Hoffman.

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The Major League Baseball Hall of Fame inductees are honored every year during Hall of Fame weekend in Cooperstown. This year, the induction ceremony will occur on Sunday, July 30, beginning at 10:30 AM. It seems probable that this event will involve Hoffman. If this is the case, one of the all time great Padres will end up where he belongs.