Roughly 60 scouts representing approximately 18 teams came to watch watch Greg Holland throw about 35 pitches at his showcase on Monday, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
One scouts said he was hitting 89-90 mph with his fastball and that more importantly, the former Royals closer looked healthy.
“He had good extension, which suggests he is healthy. This is his fastball in November, 13 months after surgery – it will be something else in spring training.”
Original Report – Nov 7
The New York Mets will be attending former Royals closer Greg Holland‘s showcase today, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Holland, 31, missed the entire 2016 season as he was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. From 2011 to 2014, the four seasons before he needed surgery, he averaged 62 appearances and 64.0 innings with 28 saves, a 1.86 ERA, 1.026 WHIP, and a 12.6 K/9. The advanced statistics suggested this is where Holland’s true talent level lied as he had a 1.92 FIP and a 220 ERA+ over the same stretch.
Holland is far from a sure thing, and as of this moment, he is only throwing bullpens and hasn’t pitched in a professional game since 2015. Still, Holland has shown the ability to dominate out of the bullpen in his career, and he will be a low-risk high-reward pickup for whichever team signs him this winter.
It should be noted that the Mets not attending this workout does not preclude them from signing Holland this offseason. Rather, it may just be a suggestion as to what the Mets interest is in the free agent reliever.
