Clay Holmes has moved from Tampa to Port St. Lucy this spring, changing the life of the relief pitcher into a predecessor, and stepping into an unknown area.
Therefore, one of the most intrigued members of the Mets rotation arrived at the spring campsite more than a week ago, and the pitcher and catcher had no obligation to appear until February 12th, so preparations will be advantageous. I let you do it.
Former Yankees closer, which signed a total of $ 38 million with Mets last month, is encouraged by the fact that the transition to starter has progressed so far.
“I don't always need to change myself as a pitcher,” said Holmes on Saturday at the Mets fanfest in City Field. “There is a belief that if you do this, you can get a lot of good things by becoming a starting pitcher.”
Mets applies when Holmes is included in a true ace -free rotation, and has many benefits, but also involves considerable risks.
As a group anchor, they hope that they will re -contract with Sean Mana Air, who have finished their career year, and return to their health in 2024, when the potential ace, Kodai Chiga, was injured.
In addition to Holmes, Mets contracted with Frankie Montus. It is expected that Frankie Montas (also a former Yankees, it was also effective when he was not fighting injuries), and David Peterson, Griffin Canning, Paul Blackburn, and Tyler Megil are also expected to join the candidate. There is.
“We not only like the top of the rotation, but also the thickness of our layers,” said Carlos Mendowsa on Saturday.
Holmes is one of the weapons that can contribute to raising the group in 2018 (both participated in four games in major (both participated in Pirates in 2018).
Before wearing a Metz uniform and pitching, he received a nod of peace of mind from Mendoza, suggesting that Holmes would remain in rotation in good and bad as long as he could hold it physically.
“Either way, I know I have to be the best pitcher,” said Holmes. “That's what I have to concentrate on. Then you can be a good starting pitcher.”
To achieve this, Holmes spent more on increasing his weapons in the off -season.
He was mainly active in the Yankees as a pitcher slider, but lost his job as a Luke Weaver closer at the end of the 2024 season, but he had almost good results, but the opponent batter was the main sinker of Holmes (batting average .317). I hit. They were better than last season.
He pitched with a 56.3 percent probability and pitched more (63.2 %) to the left batter who recorded the batting average of .346.
So Holmes knew that even if it was a reliever, it would probably need to be expanded his weapons.
He played a change -up in a bullpen last year, added a Four seam's fastball in time for the playoffs, and left a reassuring result with a small number of samples.
Currently, he is sophisticated with both pitches in the off -season, and he likes what he has seen so far.
“The indicator is [the changeup] Perhaps it's better than my current sinker, so I need to see the batter swinging, “Holmes said. “If left -handed players are added to this, I think Four seam will be played further.”
