Clay Holmes: Mets' Surprising Choice for Opening Day Starter
Clay Holmes, who last started a game in 2018, has been named the New York Mets' Opening Day starter for the upcoming season. This unexpected decision by Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has stirred discussions across the baseball community. Holmes, previously known for his closing duties, has shown promising signs during spring training, with reports indicating his transition to a starter role has been nearly flawless. Despite the lack of recent starting experience, Holmes' selection reflects the Mets' strategy to innovate their pitching rotation, especially in light of injuries to key players like Jeff McNeil, who will miss the start of the season due to an oblique strain. This move underscores the team's confidence in Holmes' ability to adapt and perform under new circumstances.
Clay Holmes, who last started a game in 2018, has been named the New York Mets' Opening Day starter for the upcoming season. This unexpected decision by Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has stirred discussions across the baseball community. Holmes, previously known for his closing duties, has shown promising signs during spring training, with reports indicating his transition to a starter role has been nearly flawless. Despite the lack of recent starting experience, Holmes' selection reflects the Mets' strategy to innovate their pitching rotation, especially in light of injuries to key players like Jeff McNeil, who will miss the start of the season due to an oblique strain. This move underscores the team's confidence in Holmes' ability to adapt and perform under new circumstances.
Rangers' Jon Gray hit by line drive, suffers wrist fracture.
The Texas Rangers' pitching staff took another hit Friday, when right-hander Jon Gray suffered a right wrist fracture.Gray was struck by a line drive from Colorado Rockies first baseman Michael Toglia to lead off the fourth inning that knocked him out of the game.
"Not good news, not good news," manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. "It's terrible. I feel awful for him, to be this close to getting the season going. It's just not good news. I'll get back in there and find out more, but right now, there is a fracture."
Gray's injury is the third setback for the Rangers' rotation this week. The team said Thursday that left-hander Cody Bradford would start the season on the injured list because of soreness in his throwing elbow. Tyler Mahle had been scratched from a start with forearm soreness, but the right-hander returned to pitch in a minor league game Thursday.
Gray went 5-6 with a 4.47 ERA in 23 appearances (19 starts) for the Rangers last season, when he was shut down in September for a foot injury that required surgery. He is in the final year of a four-year, $56 million deal.
Joey Gallo released by White Sox, eyes switch to pitching.
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Joey Gallo has been released by the Chicago White Sox after the veteran slugger struggled in nine Cactus League games with the team.The White Sox announced the move Sunday. The first baseman/outfielder was in camp on a minor league contract.
After the White Sox announced Sunday that they had released the two-time All-Star, Gallo posted on social media that he was done with the outfield and he was going to start pitching.
"He had expressed interest through his agent if it didn't work out on the Major League team, that he was going to explore the pitching side," White Sox assistant general manager Josh Barfield told MLB.com. "I know it's something he's been dabbling around with in between some of the reps here. But he asked for his release today. So, we accommodated that."
Gallo went 2-for-20 with Chicago in spring training, striking out 11 times.
The 31-year-old Gallo hit .161 with 10 homers, 27 RBIs and 102 strikeouts in 223 at-bats with Washington this past season. Gallo's $8 million mutual option was declined by the Nationals in November.
Gallo has a .194 career average with 208 homers, 453 RBIs and 1,292 strikeouts in 2,869 at-bats in 10 major league seasons with Texas (2015-21), the New York Yankees (2021-22), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2022), Minnesota (2023) and the Nationals.
The White Sox also said Mason Adams, one of their top pitching prospects, has a flexor strain in his right elbow.
The 25-year-old right-hander, a 13th-round pick in the 2022 amateur draft, pitched 1⅓ innings against Cincinnati on Friday before leaving because of elbow discomfort.
Mookie Betts will not play in the Tokyo Series due to an illness, per manager Dave Roberts.
