One September callup we want for each MLB team

Colorado Rockies: Jeff Hoffman

Entering their first real meaningful month of September for the first time since 2009, the Rockies are in desperate need of reinforcements to help carry their limping bullpen and rotation to the finish line. Closer Greg Holland is working through an ugly August in his first season after Tommy John. Rockies starters have a 5.15 ERA in the second half while the bullpen checks in at 4.73. Both marks are significantly worse than the first half.

The Rockies need pitching reinforcements desperately. The innings for Kyle Freeland, Antonio Senzatela and German Marquez will need to be managed down the stretch. Right-hander Jeff Hoffman has already made 16 starts for the Rockies this year and is a prime candidate to return to the big leagues when rosters expand.

Hoffman was one of the headliners in the Troy Tulowitzki deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. The 24-year-old right-hander is in the middle ground between prospect and established big leaguer at this point of his career. Hoffman has pitched in 25 MLB games and has a 6-9 record with a 5.20 ERA.

Colorado called Hoffman up in early May after he failed to make the rotation out of Spring Training. He had a respectable 3.95 ERA and 4-1 record in his first seven starts of the season and had given up only two home runs in 41 innings. In the nine starts that followed before his demotion to Triple-A, Hoffman had a 6.39 ERA and gave up 11 home runs in 49.1 innings.

With Hoffman, there have been flashes of solid pitching in his first two years with the Rockies. A full-time move to the bullpen next season may allow Hoffman to experience more sustained success at the MLB level.