There are always some moments in a pitcher’s journey when they realize that what has worked out before might not be enough anymore. Maybe it’s just the pursuit of staying ahead in a game that’s always evolving. For one of the Mets’ most valuable arms, this offseason was more than just staying in shape. It was about adding something new, something that could make all the difference when the season starts.
The Mets’ $38 million ace—Clay Holmes—recently revealed his offseason transformation in an interview with SNY. It doesn’t happen every day that a seasoned pitcher decides to modify his game plan. Holmes, on the other hand, was fully committed to making his adjustment work.
He mentioned, “It’s obviously something I’ve been working on this offseason, especially early in spring, just trying to get some miles on it, see where it’s at.” For Clay Holmes, mastering a changeup was more than just testing out a new pitch. It was a calculated decision to give him an extra weapon on the field. His signature sinker has long been one of his most reliable weapons, and naturally batters had started to anticipate it more.
In the 2024 season, in spite of hitting a solid 3.14 ERA, Clay Holmes saw a rise in the hard-hit rate against him, which suggests that hitters were adjusting. In a recent spring training game, he pitched 3 2/3 shutout innings, allowing one hit and three walks and striking out eight batters.
During the interview, he also explained, “Instead of having to force that, the changeup just allowed me to pull back a little bit. I got a ground ball early with it, some swings and misses, so just being forced to throw that a little bit and have some good results was nice to see.” On Sunday the right hander threw 38 of his pitches for strikes, he had to be on his A-game rather than just relying on his trademark sinker.
For a pitcher who is well known for inducing weak contact, this could turn out to be a missing piece from the puzzle that makes him even more dangerous. If this spring gives us any hint, Holmes’ offseason work might just make him a nightmare for hitters in 2025. With two or three spring starts remaining before the season kickstarts, Holmes will have the opportunity to scale up on his pitch count and take home learning before he gets into the thick of the action.
The Mets could be onto something big with Clay Holmes
Not everything in spring training is as it seems. Some players turn heads under the March skies, only to fade when the games are approaching. But once in a blue moon, you see such a phenomenal performance that makes you wonder, what if this is real? What if it’s just the beginning of something big? For the Mets’, a player who comes under that category is Clay Holmes.
The 31-year-old right-hander is turning heads as he is transitioning into a full-time starting role. Clay Holmes recently delivered his best outing to date. He struck out eight Washington Nationals batters over 3.2 innings while allowing just one hit. He delivered a staggering 13 swings and misses, making it evident that Holmes’ offseason adjustments have already started paying off in a big way.
Adding to that belief, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said, “On a day he’d probably tell you the two-seam wasn’t at his best; that’s part of the transition.”. He also added, “As a reliever, you don’t have your A-pitch; you’re going to have to find a way to get it back. Now, as a starter, he’s finding a way to use his slider, his changeup, his cutter, and the four-seam.” That versatility is exactly what the Mets require at the moment, especially with their key players Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea expected to miss the start of the season due to injuries.
So far, Clay Holmes has been phenomenal with 9.2 scoreless innings, just two hits allowed, and 13 strikeouts. That’s impressive for a Mets rotation searching for stability. If Holmes follows consistency, he won’t just be filling a void in the rotation; he could lead it.
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