Jim Callis on Derek Holland

by mchang4 on Aug 12, 2008 1:42 PM CDT Comment 22 comments

Several pitchers recently drafted or acquired by the Rangers are getting a lot of attention, starting with Blake Beavan, Neftali Feliz, Tommy Hunter, Michael Main and Neil Ramirez. But Derek Holland is flying under the radar despite an outstanding season. What can you tell us about him?

Zack Wristen
Abilene, Texas

Holland just missed cracking our Rangers Top 30 in the 2008 Prospect Handbook, but he'll easily make it in next year's edition. In his first full season as a pro, he has gone 10-1, 2.60 in 22 starts between low Class A Clinton and high Class A Bakersfield. Opponents are hitting just .217 with three homers against him, and he has posted a 128-34 K-BB ratio in 125 innings.

A 25th-round pick out of Wallace State (Ala.) CC in the 2006 draft, Holland signed as a draft-and-follow the next spring. Credit area scout Rick Schroeder with a tremendous find. Holland has a better fastball than most lefthanders, as it ranges from 91-97 mph and really jumps on hitters. His changeup is a solid second pitch, and he'll also flash a quality slider. He still has a ways to go, but Holland has a ceiling of a No. 2 starter.

Lefty throwing 97? If he continues to dominate in the minor leagues, he could be a No.1 starter.

K9 ratio in High A is 10.80 + WHIP is 0.70 = STUD

The one thing I want to see him improve is his BB total. In clinton his BB9 was 2.79. That's 29 BB 93.2IP

If he finishes the year strong in AA, do you think he has a immense chance being in the rangers rotation in 2009?

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No

I think they will let him try split next year between AA and AAA. Possibly, if he continues to dominate next year and people get injured, he may get a September call-up but I think that the front office is trying to protect our gems from rushing them too quickly.

by CS3 on Aug 12, 2008 1:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

neftali feliz?

eric hurley?
tommy hunter?
warner madrigal?

all those guys are ppl who have been pushed pretty quick through the system…

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Aug 12, 2008 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Feliz

isn’t even in AAA yet, so I wouldn’t consider him being pushed that hard yet. They had him skip A+ because there was no point in letting him put up stupid numbers in Bakersfield just throwing his fastball and change-up. They are challenging him, not pushing him the way they did Volquez and Dominguez, but I don’t want them to put him in the rotation next year either. Hurley was drafted 4 years ago and I think it is debatable whether he was ready. Without the injuries, I don’t think he would have been called up. Hunter was drafted because they thought he would be ready quickly and Madrigal is a reliever, so it is a different situation I think. I don’t think any of them have the ceilings of Feliz or Holland and would rather the Rangers take their time with prospects of the skill level.

by CS3 on Aug 12, 2008 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

to a point they have

I think Hurley is about on schedule. Hunter is a college pitcher who has shown the ability to throw strikes. Feliz wasn’t being challenged in A ball. He still has a lot of work to do. Madrigal is a reliever. They can move up very fast.

"An effortless 98" - Scott Gardner after Neftali Feliz's first AA pitch

by RangerMad on Aug 12, 2008 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hurley is now

but i KNOW that ppl talked on here about him being pushed.

and you think its normal for a pitcher to be pitching in the majors a year after hes drafted?

...thats called pushing.

i dont give a damn about him being challenged, how old is he? what league is he in?

yes…thats called pushing

well at least to me. if a player is SIGNIFICANTLY younger, than the others in his league, thats pushing him.

carlos triunfel last year – do you not think he was pushed?

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Aug 12, 2008 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

pushed or challenged?

Hurley was brought up more due to necessity and was challenged not pushed

Feliz is being challenged

Hunter was pushed but his was like Hurley and he was brought up due to necessity

Madrigal was probably pushed at first but has stayed up due to them wanting to challenge him.

The injuries we’ve had this year have really messed with our development timelines on some players. We have had to push guys up probably a bit too soon but all of them deserved it to some extent. And by playing at the highest level it is challenging them and as long as they are not obviously over their head challenging a top young player is fine.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Aug 12, 2008 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

this

has already been posted and discussed in the main morning thread for today.

http://www.lonestarball.com/2008/8/12/592043/tuesday-morning-things#

by 6th street on Aug 12, 2008 2:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I didnt look at the comments on the morning thread

my bad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXWLfIgc0nA

by mchang4 on Aug 12, 2008 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Glad it was posted

I didn’t look on the morning thread

by RangersOCD on Aug 12, 2008 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

in comments not on post

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Aug 12, 2008 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't worry

Z will delete this thread very shortly….that’s the kind of admin he is.

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Aug 12, 2008 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

more whining

now who’s acting like a little child?

by 6th street on Aug 12, 2008 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Aug 12, 2008 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does baby need his bottle?

Last week I took a pleasure trip. I drove my wife to the airport.

by Brian Thomas on Aug 13, 2008 9:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

KIKER vs. HOLLAND

Can someone tell me the difference in Kiker and Holland? Holland has got quit a bit of pub this year, but Kiker was a #1 pick. I have not seen either pitch, however that will change tomorrow when Holland toes the rubber in Frisco. I will be very close to the action tomorrow.

Which one has the higher upside?

by peachygbc_1 on Aug 12, 2008 8:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

pure speculation right here

Not anywhere close to an expert and I would take their words much more than mine on this.

But Kiker is a year younger than Holland right now. Holland was a draft and follow and kinda found it in CC and then last year. With his performance this year Holland has been projected a little bit higher than Kiker however both project as solid middle -top rotation guys. Because of Kikers size people have said he would be a closer or reliever but right now he is fine as a starter. I am just happy we have both in this organization

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Aug 12, 2008 8:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Holland has the projoectability factor

and will most likely be ranked higher when you see those this fall/winter, so you would say that he has more upside. In reality it’s all a question of how much polish each guy can add. They both have great arms for lefties and the potential for three pitches and decent command.

Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return

by Brett Perryman on Aug 12, 2008 8:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

about 4 inches

of height. That’s what makes all the difference in the world right now.

by FirebatM3 on Aug 13, 2008 12:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

kiker : holland

doesn’t Holland also have a few mph on Kiker?

Thought I’d seen Holland typically 91-92, while Kiker a couple ticks below that this season, right?

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Aug 13, 2008 3:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Holland

more consistent velocity than Kiker, but Kiker actually has a higher max velocity (around 97) than Holland (95-96).

by FirebatM3 on Aug 13, 2008 5:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember

that Kiker reportedly touched 97 in a playoff game last season in Clinton, but I haven’t heard anything like that this season. Hasn’t he typically been 88-91 this season?

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Aug 13, 2008 9:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs