ECU Wire Services

 

DURHAM, N.C. – East Carolina junior Jeff Hoffman has been tabbed Preseason First-Team All-America by Baseball America, the publication announced Monday.

For Hoffman, it’s his third selection to an All-America squad this spring following his first-team designation by Perfect Game and a third-team listing by Collegiate Baseball. He is also a member of the C-USA Preseason All-Conference team that was selected by the league’s 13 head coaches last week.

As a sophomore in 2013, Hoffman went 6-7 with a 3.20 ERA earning Second-Team All C-USA honors. The Latham, N.Y. native led the Pirates in quality starts (11), innings pitched (109 2/3), strikeouts (84) and quality starts (11), while ranking second in walk-to-strikeout ratio (0.46). The right-hander earned C-USA Pitcher-of-the-Week accolades for the second time in his career after tossing a complete game, one-hit shutout against North Carolina Central (Mar. 29). Hoffman ranked among the league leaders (all games) in innings pitched (fifth) and strikeouts (84/9th), while standing 98th nationally in strikeouts.

This past summer Hoffman spent his second-straight season playing for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of Cape Cod League, where he was named the 2013 Robert A. McNeece Award winner for Outstanding Pro Prospect. He posted a 2-0 record with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. In four starts he fanned 33 batters, held his opponents to a .217 composite average and posted a 0.15 walk-to-strikeout ration.

His finest start of the summer came July 17 against Orleans, in which he threw 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball, scattering three hits, walking one and striking out 11 batters. The performance was enough to earn him Coca-Cola Pitcher-of-the-Week honors.

Hoffman and the Pirates will open the 2014 season on Friday, Feb. 14 when they play host to James Madison at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. (EST). To order season tickets contact the ECU Athletic Ticket Office at (252) 737-4500.