Pittsburgh Pirates’ reliever Colin Holderman once looked like a budding reliever. Up until the 2024 All-Star break, Holderman was the Pirates’ go-to setup man. But it’s been all downhill since then. His ERA is approaching 8.00, and he is averaging nearly two home runs allowed every nine innings of work.
But Holderman invokes similar vibes to a former Pirates reliever who went on to become an All-Star with the New York Yankees: Clay Holmes.
Holmes was once one of the Pirates’ prized 2011 draft picks, and his $1.2 million signing bonus still stands as a record for a ninth-round pick.