New York Yankees
The New York Yankees selected Holder in the sixth round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft. [5] [6] After pitching in relief in college,the Yankees converted him into a starting pitcher. [7] He made his professional debut in 2014 with the Gulf Coast Yankees of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and later played for the Staten Island Yankees of the Low–A New York-Penn League. He started 2015 with the Tampa Yankees of the High–A Florida State League. He posted a 7–6 record with a 2.52 ERA and was a Mid-Season All-Star. [8]
In 2016,he was moved back to the bullpen,where he said his velocity improved. [7] He began the season with Tampa but was soon promoted to the Trenton Thunder of the Double–A Eastern League. On April 26,2016,Holder pitched the final inning of a joint no hitter that was started by Ronald Herrera. [9] He was an Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star. [8] The Yankees then promoted Holder to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the Triple–A International League. He struck out 12 batters over four innings on August 28,which earned him Pitcher of the Week honors. [10] He was also named the best relief pitcher and was an organization All-Star,according to MiLB.com. [8] [11]
The Yankees promoted Holder to the major leagues on September 2,2016. [12] His first major league strikeout came against Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones,striking him out on 3 pitches. [13] In 8 appearances with the Yankees to finish 2016,Holder had a 5.40 ERA. On May 5,2017,Holder got his first major league win pitching a scoreless inning of relief against the Chicago Cubs. In 37 appearances out of the bullpen,Holder finished the 2017 year 1–1 with a 3.89 ERA.
In 2018,Holder made the big league team out of spring training. [14] On August 2,2018,Holder allowed seven runs without recording an out in a game against the Boston Red Sox. Holder became the second Yankees pitcher to ever post such a line after Bob Kammeyer did so on September 18,1979. [15] Holder finished the year with a solid 3.14 ERA in 66 innings pitched.
He faltered in 2019,allowing five runs,including a solo homer and a grand slam,without getting an out against the Blue Jays on June 24. [16] After allowing 13 runs and six home runs over his past six outings,he was demoted to Triple-A. [17] The team hoped he could improve his fastball command and the sharpness of his breaking pitches while in the minors. [18] He returned to the majors on July 22,but went down with shoulder inflammation in August. [19] [20] He pitched to a 4.98 ERA in 21.2 innings during the 2020 season. [21] On December 2,2020,Holder was non-tendered by the Yankees. [22]
Chicago Cubs
On December 17,2020,Holder signed a one-year,$750,000 contract with the Chicago Cubs. [23] He was placed on the injured list on April 1 because of a right shoulder strain. [24] On April 26,2021,Holder was moved to the 60-day injured list. [25] He did not appear in a game for Chicago due to the injury and was outrighted off of the 40-man roster on November 3,2021. [26] He elected free agency the following day,but re-signed with the team on a minor league contract on November 19. [27]
Holder went into 2022 as a non-roster invitee. [28] He was reassigned to the minors on April 4. [29] After starting the year on the injured list,Holder was again transferred to the 60-day injured list in May. Following a rehab assignment with the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Cubs,he was finally activated on August 4. [8] He then spent the remainder of the season with the Triple–A Iowa Cubs,making 14 appearances and struggling to a 10.00 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 18.0 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 10,2022. [30]
