Clay Holmes
Clayton Walter Holmes (born March 27, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018. Career. Pittsburgh Pirates. Holmes was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft out of Slocomb High School in Slocomb, Alabama. He signed with the Pirates, receiving a $1.2 million signing bonus, forgoing his commitment to play college baseball at Auburn University. Holmes made his professional debut in 2012 with the State College Spikes and  spent the whole season there, going 5–3 with a 2.28 ERA in 13 starts. He spent 2013 with the West Virginia Power where he was 5–6 with a 4.08 ERA in 26 games (25 starts). He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014 and missed the season. He returned in 2015 and made three rehab starts with the Gulf Coast League Pirates before being assigned to the Bradenton Marauders. In six starts for Bradenton, he struck out 16 batters in 23 innings and compiled a 2.74 ERA. Holmes spent 2016 with the Altoona Curve where he compiled a 10–9 record with  a 4.22 ERA in 26 starts. The Pirates added Holmes to their 40-man roster after the 2016 season. In 2017, he pitched for the Indianapolis Indians where he was 10–5 with a 3.36 ERA in 25 games (24 starts). Holmes began 2018 with the Indians. Pittsburgh called him up on April 1 as the 26th man for their doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers, but he did not make an appearance and was optioned back to Indianapolis before being recalled once again on April 2. He made his major league debut on April 6 against the Cincinnati Reds, pitching two  innings in which he gave up one run on two hits while striking out two and walking none. He was optioned to Indianapolis on April 13. In 2019 for Pittsburgh, Holmes registered a 5.58 ERA with 10.1 K/9 in 50 innings out of the bullpen. In 2020 for the Pirates, Holmes only appeared in one game, pitching scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in the season opener before being placed on the injured list on July 28 due to a right forearm strain and missing the remainder of the season. On December 2, Holmes was non-tendered by the  Pirates. Holmes re-signed with the Pirates on a minor league contract on December 4. On April 1, 2021, Holmes was selected to the 40-man roster. In 44 appearances for the Pirates, Holmes pitched to a 4.93 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 42 innings. New York Yankees. On July 26, 2021, the Pirates traded Holmes to the New York Yankees in exchange for Diego Castillo and Hoy Park.