By Sunday 
A New Chapter for a Former Closer in the Mets’ Overhauled Rotation
The New York Mets are counting on Clay Holmes to transform his role and emerge as a reliable starter in their injured-crippled rotation. After leaving the Yankees in search of more opportunities, Holmes is now tasked with throwing significantly more innings than ever before, and he’s embracing every challenge with a data-driven approach.
A Fresh Start in a High-Demand Role
For years, Holmes carved out his niche as a reliable reliever, accumulating between 63 and 70 innings per season with a 3.05 ERA and 74 saves. Now, with the Mets facing injuries to key starters like Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea, the team needs him to step up dramatically—potentially throwing 150 innings this season.
Using Data to Guide the Transition
Holmes is not leaving his success to chance. He’s been methodically tracking his progress with a personal device that monitors every throw, combining it with the standard Trackman data.
“The way I’ve been doing it is—and it’s not totally comprehensive, but it gets the job done—is just using a radar gun and a basic video that tracks my number of throws and the velo I throw when I’m not on the mound,” Holmes explained. This approach helps him gauge his workload between starts, ensuring he adjusts his effort on tougher days.
Expanding His Pitch Arsenal
Transitioning from a closer to a starter means Holmes needs more than just extra innings; he must evolve his pitching repertoire. Already known as a six-pitch pitcher, he has recently added a changeup and a cutter to his arsenal. These new pitches are designed to keep left-handed hitters off balance, complementing his elite sinker, which features impressive downward movement.
Teammate Brandon Nimmo praised the new cutter, comparing its effectiveness to that of a splitter. “It kind of acted like a splitter. It’s great,” Nimmo said. The evolution of his pitch mix now even draws comparisons to Luis Severino, a pitcher whose transition to a starting role proved successful under similar circumstances.
Embracing a New Environment
Holmes has already noticed the positive changes in his new surroundings. “It’s been great here,” he said. “It’s pretty loose, and I think they’ve done a great job of creating that atmosphere. You can tell that they’ve been very intentional about creating that over the last few years.”
This supportive environment, coupled with the Mets’ aggressive approach to rebuilding their rotation, has given Holmes the confidence to reinvent his game. With the coaching staff’s guidance and a commitment to tracking his performance meticulously, he’s poised to fill a significant gap in the Mets’ pitching staff.
Looking Ahead
As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on Clay Holmes to see if he can rise to the challenge of a starting role. With his expanded arsenal, data-backed training regimen, and a team desperate for pitching stability, the Mets’ gamble on Holmes could pay off in spades.
For now, the Mets are banking on Holmes to not only reinvent himself but also to be the anchor that propels their starting rotation into contention.