The Reds announced on Thursday that right-hander J.J. Hoover has cleared waivers and been sent outright to Triple-A Louisville. That represents a disappointing end to his work this year in Cincinnati, though a late-year return remains possible.
Entering the year, Hoover was positioned as the Reds’ closer after winning his arbitration hearing in his first year of eligibility. That didn’t last long, though, as he blew his first save opportunity and only ended up converting one on the season.
Hoover ended up being optioned in early May after posting disastrous results in the early going. He showed better immediately upon his return, but coughed up five earned runs in consecutive outings before going out on optional assignment once again. A significant decline in average fastball velocity certainly hasn’t helped. Hoover sits with a 13.50 ERA over 18 2/3 frames at the major league level in 2016, with opponents hitting a ridiculous .345/.433/.750 against him.
Ultimately, Cincinnati decided it couldn’t dedicate a 40-man roster spot to the veteran and decided on today’s outright. As things stand, he looks to be a non-tender candidate in the fall. That being said, Hoover ought to receive attention as a bounce-back candidate. Entering the year, he owned a 3.34 ERA over 223 2/3 major league innings with 9.1 K/9 against 4.1 BB/9, and he has been better this season when pitching at the Triple-A level.
He really sucks
Well, yeah. His name tells us that.
what’s worse than a hoover that doesn’t suck?
a leaf blower that won’t blow.
He has been really bad in 2014 and this year, but I hate to see it because he really seems like a nice guy. Have talked with him a few times at Redsfest.
Ahh vacuum humor… Let me guess not a fan of Wayne Kirby or Sam Dyson either?
He’s cleared waivers and is at triple A already. The Sox won’t get him. They’re going to go into, “we believe we have what it takes to make a postseason run.” Mode with the garbage they have now.
I am really curious what the timing of this transaction means. They didn’t need a 40 man spot and they didn’t replace him immediately either. What purpose does it serve to outright him right now rather than when you actually need the spot?
An Amir Garrett promotion???
I like Garrett a lot but I doubt they bring him up this year. I would guess they bring up Stephenson this year though
He’s already on the 40-man. Thought the same thing myself at first (read my other response below).
Seems to indicate either Garrett or Jesse Winker may be in line for a promotion. Scott Schebler was double switched out of a game yesterday after being hit by a pitch, so there is always a possibility he could be headed to the DL (not sure where he was hit or if that even had something to do with the double switch though). The other possibility is that they could be claiming someone off of waivers. Ramiro Peña would seem like an interesting option, as he would provide an upgrade over current utility player Iván De Jesús Jr. There definitely has to be something in the works though, they wouldn’t have cleared the 40-man spot for seemingly no reason.
Correction: Garrett is already on the Reds’ 40-man roster.
Don’t know what the problem with Hoover is, but he has been mostly awful in the majors. My brother and I call him JJ Groover!