| Greg Holland | |
|---|---|
 Holland with the Kansas City Royals in 2015 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1985-11-20)November 20, 1985 (age 40) Marion, North Carolina, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 2, 2010, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| April 16, 2022, for the Texas Rangers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 30–28 |
| Earned run average | 3.14 |
| Strikeouts | 677 |
| Saves | 220 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Gregory Scott Holland (born November 20, 1985) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theKansas City Royals,Colorado Rockies,St. Louis Cardinals,Washington Nationals,Arizona Diamondbacks, andTexas Rangers. Holland is a three-timeAll-Star.
After pitching forWestern Carolina University, Holland made his MLB debut with the Royals in 2010. He became theircloser and made the All-Star Game in 2013 and 2014, and also won theMariano Rivera Award in 2014. Holland was a member of the2015 Kansas City Royals team that won theWorld Series. He missed the 2016 season while recovering fromTommy John surgery, and signed with theColorado Rockies for the 2017 season. He led theNational League insaves with the Rockies, and signed with the Cardinals for the 2018 season.
Holland attendedMcDowell High School inMarion, North Carolina, and he played for the school'sbaseball team as athird baseman. He suffered a broken jaw when he was hit in the face by a ball, requiring his jaw to be wired shut. He lost weight, dropping to about 150 pounds (68 kg), and drew little interest fromcollege baseball programs. He enrolled atWestern Carolina University, andwalked on to theCatamounts' baseball team as apitcher.[1] While at Western Carolina, he had a 10–12win–loss record with a 4.34earned run average (ERA) from 2005 to 2007.
TheKansas City Royals selected Holland in the 10th round of the2007 Major League Baseball draft.[1] Holland began his professional career in 2007, making 22 relief appearances for theIdaho Falls Chukars of theRookie-levelPioneer League, and going 6–1 with a 3.48 ERA, striking out 37 batters in 332⁄3 innings. In 2008, he pitched for theWilmington Blue Rocks of theClass A-AdvancedCarolina League, going 4–5 with a 3.42 ERA in 32 games (seven starts), fanning 96 batters in 841⁄3 innings. He split 2009 between theNorthwest Arkansas Naturals of theClass AATexas League and theOmaha Royals of theClass AAAPacific Coast League, going a combined 4–3 with a 3.81 ERA in 35 relief appearances.
Holland began the 2010 season with the Omaha Royals, going 3–3 with a 3.81 ERA in 36 relief appearances for them overall. He was promoted to the majors on July 29, 2010, and made 15 relief appearances for the Kansas City Royals, going 0–1 with 23 strikeouts and a 6.75 ERA in 182⁄3 innings.[2]
Holland started the 2011 season in Omaha, but was called up again in May, earning his first major league win in a May 19 game against theTexas Rangers. He pitched in 46 games for the big league club that season, going 5–1 with a 1.80 ERA. He allowed only 37 hits and struck out 74 batters in 60 innings. At the minor league level, he was 2–0 with a 2.08 ERA in 13 relief appearances that season.[citation needed] In 2012, Holland went 7–4 with 16 saves, 91 strikeouts and a 2.96 ERA in 67 relief appearances. He assumed closing duties whenJonathan Broxton, who began the season as the team's closer, was traded to theCincinnati Reds on July 31.[3] He also pitched in two games at the minor league level that year.
In 2013, Holland became the Royals full-time closer and converted 47 of 50 save opportunities. On September 26, 2013, Holland set the Royals single season saves record with his 46th save in a 3–2 win over the Chicago White Sox. He surpassedDan Quisenberry andJeff Montgomery who both had 45 save seasons.[4] His Royals franchise record of 47 saves in a single season still stands as of the 2024 season.[5]
Holland had his second straight All-Star year in 2014, coming one short of his Royals single-season saves record by converting 46 of 48 save opportunities while compiling a 1.44 ERA.[5] He appeared in eight games in the postseason leading up to the RoyalsWorld Series appearance, posting a 1.13 ERA over 8 innings and earning 6 saves. He tied a playoff series record by saving 4 games in the ALCS (matchingDennis Eckersley's record in the 1988 ALCS), the first sinceJohn Wetteland in the1996 World Series. On October 22, Holland won the inauguralMariano Rivera Award for his outstanding performance as a closer.[6] Two days later in Game 3 of the World Series he saved his record-tying seventh game of the postseason, sharing the record with Wetteland,Robb Nen,Troy Percival,Brad Lidge andKoji Uehara.[7]
After serving the bulk of the 2015 season as the Royals' closer, compiling 32 saves with a 3.83 ERA, doctors discovered in late September that Holland had a "significant tear" in his right ulnar collateral ligament. On September 22, the Royals announced that Holland's season was over, and that he would likely requireTommy John surgery. On September 29, the team confirmed that Holland was scheduled to undergo the surgery on October 2, and that he would likely miss most, if not all, of the 2016 season.[8] With the Royals finishing the season 95–67, the team won the2015 World Series against theNew York Mets, their first title in 30 years.
After the 2015 season, Holland was granted free agency. Holland missed the entire 2016 season as he continued to recover from Tommy John surgery.[9]
On January 26, 2017, Holland signed a one-year contract with theColorado Rockies.[10] On April 3, he earned his first save since September 17, 2015, defeating theMilwaukee Brewers on his Rockies debut and Opening Day.[11] Holland won the National League Reliever of the Month Award for April.[12]
On Mother's Day, Holland broke the Rockies franchise record of converting 16 consecutive saves to start a season, formerly held byJosé Jiménez, which he had set in2002. Holland won his second consecutive NL Reliever of the Month Award for the month of May, going for 20-for-20 in save opportunities, a 1.31 ERA and 0.82 WHIP through May.[12] He was selected to his thirdAll-Star Game, played atMarlins Park inMiami. At that point, he saved an MLB-best 28 of 29 chances with a 1.62 ERA and opponents batted .162/.264/.259.[13] He slumped in August, allowing 14 earned runs in9+1⁄3 innings.[14]At the season's end, Holland had tied the Rockies franchise record for saves in one season while tying for the National League lead withLos Angeles Dodgers'Kenley Jansen. Holland's ERA was 3.61, and he qualified for enough incentives to increase his salary from the base $9 million to $15 million. Having a player option for 2018, he chose not to exercise it, making him a free agent.[15] He won the NLComeback Player of the Year Award.[16]
Holland signed a one-year, $14 million, contract with theSt. Louis Cardinals on March 31, 2018.[17] The Cardinals assigned him to thePalm Beach Cardinals of the Class A-AdvancedFlorida State League to ensure his conditioning before promoting him to the major leagues.[14] In his major league debut with the club versus theMilwaukee Brewers on April 10, he appeared in the tenth inning and walked four batters, including walking a run toOrlando Arcia, which led to a 5−4 loss.[18] On May 26, 2018, after putting up a 9.45 ERA for the 2018 season, the Cardinals put Holland on the 10-day disabled list with a hip impingement.[19]
After compiling a 7.92 ERA and a 2.24 WHIP in 25 relief innings pitched, Holland wasdesignated for assignment on July 27.[20] He was released on August 1, 2018.[21]
On August 7, 2018, he signed a contract with theWashington Nationals.[22] He greatly improved from his time in St. Louis, pitching 211⁄3 innings with 25 strikeouts, 10 walks, and a 0.84 ERA.
On January 31, 2019, Holland signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with theArizona Diamondbacks. The deal also includes an additional $3.5 million in incentive bonuses.
Initially, Holland performed well for the Diamondbacks as their closer, posting a 1.37 ERA in his first 20 games. His season soon unraveled; in his next 20 games, he posted an 8.44 ERA, and blew several save opportunities. Memorably, on July 2, Holland entered in the bottom of the ninth atDodger Stadium with the Diamondbacks holding a 4–3 lead. He successfully recorded two outs, but then proceeded to walk four Dodgers in a row, tying the game. With the bases still loaded, Holland was replaced on the mound byT. J. McFarland, who promptly walkedCody Bellinger he faced to lose the game.[23][24]
On July 26, Holland entered to pitch the bottom of the ninth atMarlins Park with a 2–1 Diamondbacks lead. He allowed a leadoff double toGarrett Cooper, walkedNeil Walker, and gave up a single toStarlin Castro which loaded the bases with nobody out.Jorge Alfaro hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game for the Marlins, and Holland was replaced withYoshihisa Hirano, who allowed a walk-off sacrifice fly toHarold Ramírez. Following the blown save, managerTorey Lovullo announced Holland would no longer serve as the Diamondbacks' closer.[25][26] The Diamondbacks eventually designated Holland for assignment on August 7, 2019.[27] He was released on August 10.
On August 13, 2019, Holland signed a minor league contract with theWashington Nationals and was assigned to the Double–AHarrisburg Senators. He made 8 scoreless appearances for the Senators, striking out 9 batters in 9 innings. Holland elected free agency following the season on November 4.[28]
Holland signed a minor league deal with the Royals on January 29, 2020.[29] He made the Opening Day roster, and had his contract selected on July 23. With the2020 Kansas City Royals, Holland appeared in 28 games, compiling a 3–0 record with 1.91 ERA and 31 strikeouts in28+1⁄3 innings pitched.[30] On December 14, 2020, Holland re-signed with the Royals on a one-year $2.75MM deal.[31]
On March 16, 2022, Holland signed a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training with theTexas Rangers.[32] On April 6, it was announced that Holland had made the Rangers’ Opening Day roster.[33]
He was designated for assignment on April 19, 2022.[34] On April 22, Holland elected free agency.[35] Holland's departure from the Rangers came shortly after he accrued ten years of major league service time.[36]
With an overhand delivery, Holland throws a four-seam fastball that is regularly clocked at 95-96 mph, topping out at 100 mph. He pairs his fastball with a slider around 86 mph, and a rare splitter around 85-89 mph.[37]
He is the son of Scott and Kim Holland. He has a brother, Chase Holland, and a sister, Ashley Holland Berryhill. He is married to Lacey. Their first child was born on October 1, 2014.[38] Their second child was born on July 27, 2017.
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