Holmes Makes MLB Debut with Pirates on Friday
April 7, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
West Virginia Power RHP Clay Holmes
(Charleston Dirty Birds)
CHARLESTON, WV - Four days after being recalled by the Pittsburgh Pirates, RHP Clay Holmes made his MLB debut with Pittsburgh on Friday, April 6, against the Cincinnati Reds. With his debut in the rearview mirror, Holmes becomes the 66th former Power player to take part in a Major League contest.
Holmes entered in the eighth inning of Friday's 14-3 triumph for the Pirates, with the 25-year-old tosssing the final two frames while allowing one run and two hits with two strikeouts. The righty also registered his first official MLB at-bat in the bottom of the eighth, striking out swinging on four pitches against Cincinnati's Jared Hughes.
The Dothan, Ala., native was selected in the ninth round of the 2011 MLB Draft by Pittsburgh out of Slocomb (Ala.) High School, but did not pitch professionally until 2012. After beginning his pro career with the State College Spikes in 2012, Holmes ascended to Charleston and spent all of 2013 with the West Virginia Power, entering the year as Pittsburgh's 10th-best prospect per Baseball America. During his lone season in the South Atlantic League, the six-foot, five-inch right-hander went 5-6 with a 4.08 ERA over 26 games (25 starts), registering 119.0 innings and 90 strikeouts while allowing 69 walks and a .240 batting average against him. Holmes led the team in starts and his 119.0 innings were second-most behind John Kuchno (123.1).
After missing all of 2014 due to Tommy John surgery, Holmes moved quickly through the ranks from the GCL in 2015 to Indianapolis in 2017, compiling a 3.67 ERA in 59 starts post-Tommy John surgery. The Tampa, Fla., resident recorded his best season in 2017 with the Indians, going 10-5 with a 3.36 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) while posting 112.2 innings and 99 strikeouts, with his 10 wins tied for the most in Pittsburgh's minor league system a year ago.
Overall, Holmes made 99 minor league appearances (97 starts) before his rise to the Major League ranks, accumulating a 31-25 record with a 3.59 ERA over 463.2 innings with 350 strikeouts and a .241 opponent average.
Holmes is the first Power player to make his MLB debut in 2018, and the first overall since Jordan Luplow took the field for Pittsburgh on July 28, 2017. For information on all of the former Power players who have logged time in the Major Leagues, visit www.wvpower.com.
Images from this story
 West Virginia Power RHP Clay Holmes |
South Atlantic League Stories from April 7, 2018
- Big Sixth Helps Shorebirds Throttle Asheville - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Cold Night Yields Cold Results; Tourists Lose 18-3 - Asheville Tourists
- Simon Pitches Well in Loss to Augusta - Columbia Fireflies
- Suns Ninth Inning Push Comes up Short in 5-2 Loss - Hagerstown Suns
- Third Straight Win, Braves over Suns 5-2 - Rome Emperors
- Fireflies Game Notes: April 7 vs. Augusta (Game 3) - Columbia Fireflies
- Holmes Makes MLB Debut with Pirates on Friday - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Saturday's Game Postponed, Intimidators Will Play Doubleheader on Sunday, April 8th - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Legends-RiverDogs Game Postponed - Lexington Legends
- Saturday's Drive-Power Game in West Virginia Postponed - Greenville Drive
- Snow Postpones Game Three in Lexington for the RiverDogs - Charleston RiverDogs
- Saturday's Game against Greenville Postponed - Charleston Dirty Birds
- West Virginia Power: Game Notes (April 7) - Charleston Dirty Birds
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
