DUNEDIN, Fla. — Clay Holmes to Start in Mets Camp Before World Baseball Classic

Clay Holmes will get one final start during Mets camp prior to gearing up for the World Baseball Classic next spring.

The right-handed pitcher expressed his excitement about joining the tournament after being approached by Team USA pitching coach Andy Pettitte last year. “I’m honored to have that opportunity,” Holmes remarked following his first Grapefruit League start on Monday. “It’s special to have someone like Andy believe in me and be in my corner.”

This marks another significant moment in Holmes’ career.

Just a year ago, he was bouncing back from a breakout season as a reliever with the Yankees, where he first met Pettitte. Holmes entered spring training harboring doubts about his potential as a starting pitcher.

In the past season, he managed to pitch 165²/₃ innings, which, interestingly, is not far off from the team leader David Peterson.

Reflecting on the previous year, Holmes commented, “I knew the clouds were following me. ‘How many innings can I pitch?’ But I never doubted myself. It’s reassuring to know I can do it. The challenges don’t get easier, though. There’s something to build off.”

However, Holmes’ journey this year hasn’t been entirely smooth.

After an impressive start with a 2.99 ERA in his first 17 games, his performance dipped to a 4.52 ERA in his last 14 games, excluding two relief outings in September. This season, he’s again stepping in as a full-time starter while also increasing his workload with the WBC.

Before his first spring start against Toronto at TD Ballpark, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza didn’t seem worried about the potential impact of increased pitching. “He hardly ever takes a break from pitching. We’re not doing anything out of the ordinary,” Mendoza stated.

Mendoza reassured fans that Holmes’ participation in the WBC wouldn’t change anything about his progress. “This is essentially the same path as last year. His preparation and offseason training are commendable.”

In his latest outing, Holmes secured a win, allowing only one hit in the third inning. The only run against him came from a powerful curve, hit by Kazuma Okamoto, who belted a 431-foot two-run homer. Okamoto, who joined Toronto in the offseason, is set to represent Japan in the WBC.

Holmes humorously quipped that he might use his less-than-stellar pitching performance to his advantage in the future, saying, “He’ll probably go back to his teammates in Japan and say, ‘He throws a big breaking ball to a right-handed pitcher.'”

Holmes pitched for a total of 57 pitches that day, recording two walks and three strikeouts. “He’s a crucial part of our rotation,” Mendoza noted. “Last year, he was reliable against us, but that transition to starting wasn’t a walk in the park. Discussions around innings limits were common. Yet, we’ve never set a limit on him. This is his second year and he’s still a key aspect of our rotation.”