Graham Hoffman has signed with the Boston Red Sox as an undrafted free agent following the MLB Draft.
TAMPA, JUNE 14, 2020 – USF redshirt sophomore pitcher Graham Hoffman signed with the Boston Red Sox as an undrafted free agent Sunday afternoon.
Hoffman (Tampa, Fla.) became the second Bull to join a professional team this week. Fellow pitcher Carson Ragsdale was selected by Philadelphia in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft on Thursday night.
“It’s honestly a dream come true. I have worked all my life for this moment. Thank you to Coach (Billy) Mohl and the USF family for always supporting me in my college career,” Hoffman said. “They pushed me every day to be a better person and a better player. Go Bulls and go Red Sox.”
After missing a bulk of the 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery, Hoffman started off 2020 strong while making five appearances out of the bullpen before the season cut short because of COVID-19. The right-hander picked up his first save of the season against Northwestern after recording one strikeout through one inning of relief.
Hoffman finished his USF career with 26 strikeouts through 20.1 innings of work. In 2018, Hoffman was part of a Bulls pitching staff that recorded 581 strikeouts and ranked fifth nationally in strikeouts per nine innings at 10.0.
“Congratulations to Graham. He has battled adversity and fought his way back from injuries, and this is the reward he has been waiting for,” Mohl said. “He has been a model student-athlete during his time here and I couldn’t be happier for him. We wish him the best of luck.”
USF’s combined total of MLB Draft selections and non-drafted free agent signings since 1973 is now up to 161.
About USF Baseball
The University of South Florida baseball program is one of the fastest rising programs in the country. The Bulls earned their third NCAA Regional berth in the last four seasons and had six all-conference selections in 2018. Four players were selected in the 2018 MLB Draft, including the program’s fourth first rounder, pitcher Shane McClanahan. Third baseman David Villar was taken in the 11th round after being named first team all-conference and an All-American. The Bulls reached the NCAA Regionals in 2015 for the first time in 13 years and followed that success with a 42-19 record and second NCAA regional trip in three years in 2017. The Bulls continued the success in head coach Billy Mohl first season in 2018, reaching 36 wins and advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament for the first time since 2012, while being ranked in multiple polls for the final two months of the season. The USF Baseball program has won five conference titles and the Bulls have made 13 NCAA appearances.
– #GoBulls –
