On Friday afternoon, the first deal of the second half was made. The Pirates traded their DH Daniel Vogelbach to the Mets for reliever Colin Holderman. While the trade won’t go down as a major move, the Pirates added an intriguing reliever. For a pitching staff in need of an upgrade, Holderman could be an important piece going forward.
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So far this season, Holderman has posted a 2.04 ERA in 17.2 innings of work. The sample size for the 26-year-old is small, but he has not allowed a home run. In his first stint in the majors, Holderman has struck out 18 batters and only issued seven walks. He also brings a unique arsenal to the Pirates bullpen.
The Illinois native possesses a sinker that averages nearly 96 MPH and a mid-80s cutter-slider. He pitches an average of 95.7 MPH, and he has seen an uptick in velocity. That has made the Pirates’ new reliever nearly unhittable as he has held batters to a .186 batting average this season. When opponents make contact, they are not making much of an impact and hitting groundballs 45.2 percent of the time.
#Mets prospect Colin Holderman is impressive. Definitely a guy to keep your eye on. He touched 💯 tonight and sat 97-99. #LGM pic.twitter.com/FFKG6z5PNW
— GENY Mets Report (@genymets) March 31, 2022
As the Pirates’ rebuild continues, they have added another arm to the equation. Holderman comes with six years of control which is vital for Pittsburgh. For the former Mets 10th ranked prospect, it has been a long journey to the majors. He was drafted in 2016 and steadily made his way up the system, making his MLB debut on May 15th. In Triple-A the right-hander has posted a 2.51 ERA and that success has translated to the majors.
Where Holderman fits in the Pittsburgh bullpen
In the Pirates bullpen, Holderman will have plenty of opportunities to succeed. He has shown the ability to pitch out of trouble and has already dealt with adversity. If he can continue his recent success, he could be a late-inning option in Pittsburgh alongside Wil Crowe and David Bednar. However, he will not be the only player Pittsburgh will be adding in the coming weeks.
With the trade deadline less than a week away, veterans like Jose Quintana, Ben Gamel, and Kevin Newman could also be on the move. The Pirates will be looking to add more young talent, and that started with Holderman. He was optioned to Triple-A but should be in Pittsburgh once he clears the 15-day minimum. Regardless of Pittsburgh’s additional moves, they have added a talented righthander to the mix with plenty of control.
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