The Kansas City Royals acquired right-handed relief pitcher Nolan Hoffman and cash considerations from the Philadelphia Phillies for 19-year-old minor league right-handed pitcher Manuel Colón.
Monday was the Major League Baseball trade deadline.
The Royals added Hoffman, who pitched two seasons at Hutchinson Community College and one season at Texas A&M, to provide much-needed bullpen depth amidst widespread roster injuries and underperformance.
Hoffman was a fifth-round pick (overall pick 148) in the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft by the Seattle Mariners.
Because he is in his pre-arbitration years and has two minor-league options remaining, Hoffman gives Kansas City a highly controllable arm for the future.
To clear a spot for Hoffman on the 40-man roster, the Royals transferred pitcher Connor Seabold to the 60-day injured list.
The Phillies designated the 28-year-old Hoffman for assignment earlier in the day to make room for other trade deadline acquisitions.
In 2026, Hoffman pitched 4.2 innings in the majors with a 3.86 ERA. He spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, posting a 4.72 ERA while striking out 40 batters across 34.1 innings.
Hoffman also has pitched in the Seattle, Baltimore and Texas organizations.
In addition to Hoffman, two other Hutchinson Blue Dragons were picked in the 2018 MLB Draft: Outfielder Michael Helman (Minnesota Twins, 11th round, 334th pick) and relief pitcher Bobby Milacki (Washington Nationals, 38th round, 1,151st pick, pitched in Triple-A in 2024-25, son of MLB relief pitcher Bob Milacki who pitched in MLB from 1988-1997, including Kansas City in 1994).
Helman, who has also played for the Twins and the St. Louis Cardinals, is currently a member of the Texas Rangers.
He is currently on the 60-day injured list with hand injuries after being struck by a pitch by Boston pitcher Tyron Guerrero on June 14.
In addition to the Hoffman for Colon deal, the Kansas City Royals made several other deals before and during the trade deadline:
• Acquired left-handed relief pitcher Carlos Duran from the Los Angeles Dodgers for left-handed starting pitcher Kris Bubic.
• Acquired left-handed pitcher Carter Holton and right-handed pitcher Lucas Braun from the Atlanta Braves for outfielder Lane Thomas and left-handed pitcher Bailey Falter.
• Acquired cash considerations from the Philadelphia Phillies for outfielder Kameron Misner.
• Acquired right-handed relief pitcher Nate Pearson from the Houston Astros for catcher/third baseman Max Martin.
• Acquired cash considerations from the Baltimore Orioles for Rudy Martin Jr.
• Acquired right-handed relief pitcher Easton McGee from the Milwaukee Brewers for cash considerations.
Pearson and McGee already have appeared in games for the Royals.
