A change-up could be a perfect addition to Holmes’ arsenal, given Holmes’ native tendency as a supinator and his work with Tread Athletics. Multiple Mets pitchers, including Jose Quintana, have trained with Tread to improve their pitch design.
In an October 2024 article, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com noted that Holmes recently reincorporated his four-seam fastball late in the season. This fastball, and proposed change-up, could be the key to Holmes’ success as a starter in 2024.
Overall, this is a big swing by the Mets’ front office. Seth Lugo and Jordan Hicks serve as recent examples of relievers that have made the pen-to-rotation shift. Lugo just finished among the AL Cy Young finishers while the jury’s still out on Hicks. Holmes is in the mold of Hicks; a pitcher with a limited arsenal with historical command concerns. Given the Mets’ recent pitching development wins, David Stearns deserves the benefit of the doubt with his plan to mold Clay into a starter.