Some pitchers are starters for their college teams and bullpen arms on the Cape. Others pitch in relief at school and jump into starting rotations in the summer.
Jonathan Holder does not fit into either category.
He’s a relief pitcher, through and through. And a very good one.
Holder set a Mississippi State school record as a freshman last year when he pitched 27.1 consecutive scoreless innings. He allowed just one earned run for the year on his way to a 0.32 ERA. He also saved nine games.
For the summer, Holder made his way to Wareham and pretty much picked up where he left off, posting a 1.98 ERA in 14 appearances. He saved two games, while sharing closing duties with Arkansas standout Colby Suggs.
Back at school this spring, he’s doing it all again – and then some.
While he’s actually giving up some runs this time around – five earned thus far – he has saved 12 games, which has him tied for third in the country. More impressive, he has struck out 52 and walked only seven in 28 innings of work. Last year, he pitched a total of 28.1 innings and only struck out 30.
Holder is slated to be back in Wareham this summer.
And I think we know where he’ll be in the ninth inning.