Where Did This Guy Come From? Derek Holland
by John Sickels on Aug 27, 2008 12:47 PM EDT
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Rangers fans are getting really excited about this guy. He hasn't received much national attention yet, but that will be changing soon, so here is the heads up.
Derek Holland was drafted in the 25th round in 2006, from Wallace State Community College in Alabama. He was a draft-and-follow pick, signing in May 2007 for $200,000. His pro debut was very successful: 3.22 ERA with an 83/21 K/BB in 67 innings for Spokane in the Northwest League, with 57 hits allowed. I did not put him in the 2008 book. I can't remember why, it may just have been an oversight. I should have: his K/IP was excellent. He should have been at least a Grade C+ prospect.
Holland opened 2008 with Clinton in the Midwest League, going 7-0, 2.40 in 17 starts with a 91/29 K/BB in 94 innings, just 77 hits and two homers allowed. Promoted to Bakersfield in the Cal League, he went 3-1, 3.19 with a 37/5 K/BB in 31 innings and 20 hits allowed. Promoted then to Frisco in the Texas League, hes' 3-0, 0.90 in his first three outings with a 22/4 K/BB in 20 innings. His combined line on the year: 13-1, 2.36, 150/38 K/BB in 145 innings, 107 hits allowed, just 3 homers.
Obviously, his statistics are excellent. I don't see anything to nitpick. Everything is above average or better, and he's maintained his ratios as he has moved up. The scouting reports are terrific. Holland was throwing 90-92 early in the year at Clinton, but over the last couple of months that has increased well into the mid-90s. Check out this report from Jamey Newberg for example. Holland's secondary pitches still need a bit of polish, but everything I have read and heard indicates that the combination of plus stuff and sharp command is special.
Holland is a Grade B+ prospect at a minimum right now and perhaps an A-. If he stays healthy, he could be an excellent pitcher.
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Will the increase in velocity stick?
To say that fans of the Rangers who follow the minor league system are excited about Holland might be understating things a bit. Seemingly every fan who has seen him pitch is ecstatic about his ability to dominate games. It will be interesting to see if he will catch and/or surpass Neftali Feliz as the top-ranked pitching prospect in the Rangers system.
Based on your experience, how likely do you think it is that Holland will be able to maintain or perhaps even improve the recent increase in velocity that he has exeperienced with his fastball?
oh i'm sure
there’s an ambitious pitching coach in the system eager to make a mechanical change that will undoubtedly drop his velocity. never fails.
It's not that recent
His velo has been 92-97 the whole year from what I’ve read.
Feliz and Holland
- and #2 in the Rangers system right now. And there’s a long list of arms behind them all the way down to the AZL. I can think of several candidates for a “Where did this guy come from” post next year at this time…Font, Perez, Boscan, Wieland…along with the guys that are more widely known like Beavan, Main, Kiker. Challenging the A’s for top system in pitching depth.
O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!
Sondern laßt uns angenehmere anstimmen,
und freudenvollere.
Correction
Holland and Feliz are #1 and #2 in the Rangers system.
Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!
Thank you John
For giving Holland the respect he deserves.
Perhaps you have finally opened the eyes of many on this site.
This kid has a special with the stuff and performance to prove it.
Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!
You're both right
The special is about his special arm, titled: “The boy with the kickass arm, from Holland with love.”
This kid has a special with stuff and performance to prove it......
This kid has a is special with stuff and performance to prove it.
or
This kid has a special arm with stuff and performance to prove it.
Would both seem to make better sense, and because he corrected someone else just above.
but still, A-?
Wasn’t that Lincecum’s grade before his rookie year? That’s a very high grade for a pitcher.
there
are others to measure that grade against… Just measuring him to LInecum’s grade is silly, there are plenty of other players who have recieved an A-, Holland’s got to be close to that, especially with his continual dominance of the Texas LG
Another filthy start
And without his best start, no less. That AA ERA is at .74 now.
Pretty clearly the first time he has ever looked at a web site. "And there are readers' comments at the bottom! And advertisements for products! And best of all, I won a free iPod!"
-Ken Tremendous on Mike Downey.
i heard he was consistently throwing 97-98 well into the late innings
in one of his latest starts in AA, i think i heard into the 8th??? haven’t looked up to see if he’s gone 8 innings in any of his Frisco starts
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