This Royals prospect needed a reset. A Caribbean winter led to his MLB debut
Andrew Hoffmann spent the offseason in a foreign place. Literally.
He didn’t know anyone and his surroundings were uncommon. There was a language barrier and the food tasted different. Even the electrical outlets were unfamiliar.
Hoffmann was out of his comfort zone. Yet somehow, amid all the chaos, he felt right at home.
“I went to the Dominican (Republic) for a couple of months and really put it back on track on what I was trying to do,” the Kansas City Royals prospect said. “After being traded and showing up here not performing how I wanted to perform, going to the Dominican was really finding myself again as a pitcher.”
Hoffmann played for Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League. He relished the opportunity to improve his game, so playing in the Caribbean was an easy choice.
And for good reason.
In 2024, Hoffmann struggled to throw strikes with the Royals’ Class AAA affiliate, the Omaha Storm Chasers. His ERA swelled to 6.82 in 25 appearances.
Hoffmann knew his career needed a reset. The Dominican Republic offered him a chance to re-define his career.
“It’s like being comfortable being uncomfortable,” the 25-year-old said Thursday. “That was the big thing for me. Show up in the clubhouse and nobody knows you. You’re brand new. It’s kind of like this is where I restart and build upon here.”
Hoffmann turned things around. He threw 11 1/3 innings in the Dominican Winter League and carried that success into the 2025 season in Omaha. He has pitched as a reliever after drawing starts throughout the previous season.
A good spring training evolved into a red-hot start in the minor leagues. The Royals took notice and on Wednesday made what for Hoffman would be a life-changing decision.
Hoffmann — acquired in a 2022 trade with the Atlanta Braves that also brought Drew Waters and CJ Alexander to KC — was promoted from Triple-A and arrives as the newest reliever in the Royals’ bullpen.
“He’s really emerged this year,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “You know, he’s developed the changeup a lot more and he’s always had a good slider. His (velocity) has ticked up and he’s been getting righties and lefties out.
“We like the fact that he is neutral in that regard. He’s really pitched his way onto the scene.”
To make room for Hoffman on their roster, the Royals sent down left-handed pitcher Evan Sisk in a corresponding move. Sisk recorded a 1.69 ERA in his latest big-league stint.
Hoffmann offers a different look from the side-arming Sisk. He stands 6-foot-5 and features a dynamic arsenal of pitches.
In Triple-A, Hoffmann threw a new pitch, the kick-change, and that generated attention. It’s helped him find life on his fastball and keep hitters off-balance.
Hoffmann had struck out 37 batters with nine walks in 25 1/3 innings this year. He learned the kick-change by watching videos on social media and working with Driveline, a Kent, Washington-based development program, this offseason.
“One day, I went in there and started throwing it,” Hoffmann said. “I was like, ‘OK.’ Once you start to see the success of that, it brings the confidence of everything else.”
Hoffmann learned of his promotion to the majors on Tuesday. He was waiting to stretch ahead of the Storm Chasers’ game before making the short drive to Kansas City.
He arrived in town and then hung out at the team hotel. On Wednesday, Hoffmann was officially a Royal.
He expected to have a host of family and friends in attendance for his first game Thursday night. The Royals could use him against the Cincinnati Reds in Wednesday’s series finale at Kauffman Stadium after the bullpen was taxed Tuesday evening.
“He always stood out as somebody who was always working quickly,” Quatraro said. “Even in his bullpen, he worked quickly and had a lot of intent to what he was doing. He was kind of a no-nonsense kind of guy.”
Hoffmann will wear No. 54 with the Royals. He is the latest player to make his Major League Baseball debut this week, joining outfielder John Rave, who debuted against the Reds on Monday.
Hoffmann now gets his chance to experience life as a big-leaguer at Kauffman Stadium.
“It’s pretty cool to see your dream become a reality,” he said.
This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 5:23 PM with the headline "This Royals prospect needed a reset. A Caribbean winter led to his MLB debut."
