After making three rehab starts in the Gulf Coast League, Clay Holmes is ready to pitch for the Bradenton Marauders. Holmes had Tommy John surgery last March, which cost him the entire 2014 season. He was originally scheduled to go to Bradenton last year. He will make his debut with the team on Friday in Daytona.
Holmes had a terrific outing in his last GCL appearance on Saturday. He threw five shutout innings, giving up three hits, no walks and he recorded four strikeouts. He went 4.2 in his previous outing, allowing one run on six hits and a walk. In his debut back on June 23rd, Holmes went 3.2 innings, surrendering two runs.
The 22-year-old righty is still at a good level for his age, and if he can show enough this year, then he should be able to move up to Altoona for next season. His goal the rest of this year will be to just build up his innings. He was pitching in Extended Spring Training, throwing his first inning back on May 13th in a simulated game, then working his way up to be able to pitch in a regular game(his GCL debut). He was throwing 92-95 MPH in an EST start on June 2nd. So his final inning total this year won’t be that high on paper, but if all goes well, then he will be able to pitch a full season next year as a starter.