Hoffman Is Coming Into Own at Short : Ex-Basketball Player Shines in Metro League

Trevor Hoffman didn’t grab many headlines in high school as a baseball player. He gained most of his notice playing basketball.

At Savanna High, Hoffman developed a jump shot that was good enough to make him a two-year varsity starter, averaging 15 points a game as a senior. But he wasn’t good enough to play past high school.

Having a brother in the major leagues--Glenn Hoffman of the Boston Red Sox--drew as much attention to Trevor’s baseball career as did his on-the-field accomplishments.

He played varsity baseball three seasons at Savanna, but admits it was a struggle, even as a senior.

“It wasn’t that he did a poor job for us,” Mike Quigley, Savanna coach, said. “He did a lot of little things like move runners and that kind of thing. He just didn’t do as well as he could have. He played a lot of basketball and really worked hard at it. Once he finally did get out to baseball, he worked at it 150%, also.

“He has a tremendous admiration for his brother, and Glenn was very successful at Savanna. He (Trevor) put a lot of pressure on himself to do as well as Glenn did.”

But Hoffman’s Savanna struggles may be behind him. He has found the right place and the right sport as Cypress College’s shortstop.

After hitting .310 his freshman season, Hoffman, 18, is having another good season this summer, playing for the Outdoor Dimension Cubs, the Metro League team coached by Scott Pickler, Cypress baseball coach.

“Coming from basketball to baseball was tough,” Hoffman said. “It’s just a slower game that takes a while to get used to. I always wanted to play baseball but I just wasn’t fully developed yet, mentally or physically. College (base)ball is where I want to be. Everyone is out here to play, not just to get a letter.”

Because of his poor senior season, Hoffman was recruited for baseball only by community colleges. The most interested was Pickler.

“I knew his future wasn’t there (in basketball),” Pickler said. “We talked to him when he was a senior about coming to Cypress. I just though if he dedicated himself to baseball, he had a chance to really be outstanding.”

Hoffman struggled though his first winter season, having a difficult time adjusting to the pitching and playing year-round.

In high school, the season is 20-25 games. Now, Hoffman plays on teams during the winter, spring and summer. At first, Hoffman had trouble with the improved pitching and the advanced level of play. He spent most of the early part of the season on the bench, as sophomore Ed Evans got most of the playing time.

When Evans struggled at the plate, Hoffman became a starter for the last 12 games of South Coast Conference play.

Hoffman hit a home run in his first start and a grand slam two days later--his only two of the season.

Despite the home runs, Pickler sees Hoffman with a wide range of batting skills, including bat control and the ability to make contact. These skills allow Pickler to hit Hoffman anywhere from second to seventh in the order.

“The big thing for him was getting to play every day,” Pickler said. “We really worked with him the week he hit the home runs on his stroke. He just needs to sit back and drive the ball more.

“He has the confidence as a player he once lacked and is starting to assert himself as the on-the-field leader we would like him to be. . . . One thing we never had to work on was his defense. He has a really outstanding glove.”

This summer, Hoffman is hitting .350 and has a seven-game hitting streak for the first-place Cubs.

But summer in the Metro League is different from the South Coast Conference season.

Instead of classes in the morning and baseball until dark, Hoffman is up about 3:30 a.m. to work for a food services company from 4-8 a.m. weekdays.

After work, he sleeps for a few hours and then goes to the beach or the ball field.

Hoffman isn’t shy about having a brother in professional baseball and uses it to his full advantage.

But having a brother in the majors may have been part of the reason he struggled in high school. Hoffman admits he might have pressed at times trying to play like Glenn.

Glenn suffered from dizzy spells caused by a mild heart condition and has been sidelined most of this season. He is playing Double-A ball in New Britain, Conn., for the Red Sox.

“It’s neat having my friends ask me what different players are like,” Hoffman said. “I love having him there, it made me an instant Red Sox fan. Someday, I want to be there playing next to my brother.”