From de-commit to regional champ: Colorado’s Nathan Hoffman

Senior Nathan Hoffman is Colorado Buffaloes baseball's centerfielder, shortstop, closing pitcher, leadoff hitter and club president. (Photo by Jacob Hock/Sko Buffs Sports)

In August 2022, senior center fielder Nathan Hoffman had to make the decision to give up his dream of playing NCAA baseball.

Today, he leads the Colorado Buffaloes, looking to return to the summit of collegiate club baseball.

Hoffman, 22, from Longmont, Colorado, began playing baseball at age 3 after watching the New York Yankees on TV and wanting to be like the pros. He played multiple sports at Mead High School, where he set the record for the most varsity letters in school history with 11.

Out of high school, Hoffman committed to playing baseball at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas. He had always dreamed of playing in the NCAA and felt ETBU was the place for him.

“They were a top Division III program in the nation,” Hoffman said. “And I thought they could really develop me as a player and get me to where I wanted to be.”

But before reporting to Marshall his freshman year, a nagging shoulder injury forced Hoffman to end his NCAA career before it began.

Hoffman had torn 40% of his labrum by the end of high school. As a multi-sport athlete, the quick turnarounds from sport to sport, particularly from basketball playoffs to baseball regular season, broke his body down.

“At that level of baseball, you need to be at 100% with your arm to be competitive, and I wasn’t,” Hoffman said.

Lingering injuries can take a player out for years, and Hoffman decided it wasn’t worth it to go far from home to a small school only to not play. He instead settled on the University of Colorado, a “back-up school” that was close to his family.

Hoffman was aware of the club team at CU, but hesitated to join. He had doubts about the quality of play and still dealt with his hurt shoulder. Ultimately, he decided to get back on the diamond and play in black and gold.

The decision to play baseball again paid off immediately. In Hoffman’s freshman year, the Buffs won the Mid-America Regional Tournament and made it to the National Collegiate Baseball Association World Series.

Hoffman was shocked by the level of competition in club baseball. After getting recruited by NCAA schools, Hoffman saw club baseball as more of a recreational affair than competitive high-level ball. In one year, he was proven wrong.

“It’s very high-level baseball,” Hoffman said. “It’s got guys who could play [NCAA] D-III, D-II, D-I, or even did.”

Three years later, Hoffman is the only player on the current roster who was on that World Series team. He considered last season a reset after he felt the culture of the team had declined the year after winning regionals. Every year since making the World Series, he gets hungrier to return.

In his senior year, Hoffman was named club president. He leads off in the lineup and comes in as a closing pitcher. More than anything, he’s the experienced leader of a team looking to return to the NCBA World Series.

“He leads by example,” junior second baseman Judson Stafford said. “He just does the right things; does what he needs to do day in and day out.”

However, Hoffman doesn’t hope his legacy is how he played for how far the Buffs go. He just wants his teammates to see him as a good friend.

“It’s bigger than baseball; we’re all a family here,” Hoffman said. “I hope [my teammates] take me as someone they can talk to about stuff, whether that’s outside of baseball or baseball-related, and can be comfortable with.”

In 2026, Hoffman hasn’t felt more confident in a team returning to the World Series than this year’s squad.

“I’ve said it from the get-go, this team is just as, if not more talented than the World Series team my freshman year,” Hoffman said. “We have such a high ceiling and the coaching staff that’s going to get us there.”

As a leader on the field and a friend off it, Hoffman’s helped create a culture that everyone wants to be a part of.

“Whether he’s 0-for-4 or 4-for-4, you can’t tell the difference,” junior pitcher Elon Schwartz said. “He’s going to stand up there and cheer his teammates on and hope for the win no matter what.”