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Hoffman headed to All-Star game

Trevor Hoffman was supposed to take his sons fishing. Instead, they’re all headed back to the All-Star game.

The career saves leader was a late addition to the National League squad, joining Pittsburgh pitcher Zach Duke and Tampa Bay first baseman Carlos Pena as players picked Sunday to replace All-Stars unable to participate Tuesday night.

Hoffman, in his first season with the Milwaukee Brewers, will substitute for Los Angeles Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton, who has an injured toe.

“You relish the opportunity,” Hoffman said. “You don’t know how often these come along.”

The 41-year-old reliever said his sons—Brody, Quinn and Wyatt—didn’t mind dad’s sudden change of All-Star break plans from fishing for three days in Wisconsin to a jam-packed trip to St. Louis.

“My kids are really excited. They’ve gotten older and been to quite a few, but they’re starting to understand the dynamics that are part of it,” Hoffman said. “It was a pretty easy sell.”

Broxton’s injury makes way for Hoffman’s seventh all-star appearance and his first in a uniform other than the San Diego Padres’, the team with which Hoffman built his Hall-of-Fame career.

“Big surprise,” Hoffman said. “It’s nice to come in and get that kind of news dropped on you.

“It’s a really big honor to be able to represent not only the Brewers, but the Brewer bullpen and the work they’ve accomplished in the first half. I think that’s indicative of being able to put a guy like myself in position to go.”