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Derek Holland

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For other people named Derek Holland, see Derek Holland (disambiguation).
Derek Holland
Texas Rangers – No. 45
Starting pitcher
Born: (1986-10-09) October 9, 1986 (age 38)
Newark, Ohio
Bats: Switch
Throws: Left
debut
April 25, 2009, for the Texas Rangers
Career statistics
(through May 9, 2013)
Win-loss record42–31
Earned run average4.54
Strikeouts511
Teams

Derek Lane Holland (born October 9, 1986) is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers. He is noted for his kid-like appearance and fun-loving behavior[1]. He was the no. 2 rated prospect in the organization according to Baseball America, behind Neftalí Feliz, for 2009.[2] He is nicknamed the Dutch Oven.[3]

Baseball career

Pitching style

Holland has the ability to throw a variety of pitches to right-handed hitters and left-handed hitters at different speeds. His primary pitch is a four-seam fastball averaging 94-95 mph. To lefties, he throws the four-seamer, a two-seamer, and a slider (82-85). To righties, he throws a balance of the aforementioned pitches as well as a changeup in the mid 80s and a curveball in the mid-high 70s. Holland relies heavily on his slider with two strikes to both right-handed and left-handed hitters.[4]

2009: Major League debut

Holland was drafted in the 25th round in 2006 out of Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Alabama, a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association.[5]

On April 22, 2009, Holland made his major league debut; pitching 2⅓ innings, allowing 3 hits, no runs, no walks, and striking out 2. On August 9, he pitched his first complete game, a 7–0 shutout against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Anaheim.

2010

Holland spent the majority of 2010 in Triple-A Oklahoma City, and was called up only due to injuries to other starters. After winning his first two decisions, he lost his next three. He ended the regular season with a 3–4 record, and 4.08 ERA.

2010 Post-season

Holland allowed 3 runs in 4.2 innings in the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays. He pitched 5.2 innings in the ALCS with no earned runs, and was crucial in Game 4, earning the victory against the defending champion New York Yankees. He came in in the fourth inning with one out and the bases loaded, and got his team out of a serious jam while also eating away innings to protect his bullpen.

Unfortunately, Holland would not have the same success in the World Series against the San Francisco Giants. In game 2, Holland entered with one on and one out in the bottom of the 8th inning, with the Rangers trailing 2-0. Seemingly unable to handle the pressure of pitching in the World Series for the first time, Holland walked all three batters he faced, without recording an out, and forced in the runner he inherited via his final walk. Holland's wildness would open the door for what turned into a huge inning for the eventual champion Giants, as all three of the batters he walked would come around to score. The Rangers would lose the game 9-0. Holland did pitch a scoreless relief inning in a game four 4-0 loss, but he and the Rangers would lose the series 4-1.

2011

Derek Holland started the 2011 season as a starter for the Rangers, and despite a 4.96 ERA, won four of his five starts in April and May.[6] He lowered his ERA to 4.14 in June, mainly by virtue of his first shutout of the season.[7] He started off July with inconsistency, failing to make it out of the first inning against the Marlins. Over the next five starts, he would respond by throwing three more shutouts.[8]

In 2011, he was 16–5 with a 3.95 ERA.[9] He led the AL in shutouts (4; tied for fifth-most in Rangers history), was 3rd in win-loss percentage (.762; the fifth-best in Rangers history), and was 4th in wins.[9][10]

On October 23, Holland was the winning pitcher in Game 4 of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, giving up no runs on two hits, two walks and striking out seven. He was pulled from the game after pitching 8 and 1/3 innings.

2012

He signed a contract extension on March 20, 2012 that is worth $28.5 million over 5 years with a two year club option with Texas Rangers. Holland finished the regular season with a won-loss record of 12-7 with an ERA of 4.67 as he gave up 32 home runs, fifth highest in Major League Baseball.

Twitter controversy

On Sunday, September 30, 2012, after a poor pitching performance, Holland's Twitter account responded to an angry comment from a fan with "Ur a fag." The comment was later deleted. When the media asked Holland about it, he stated that he had not written the anti-homosexual slur, but rather said that he had been hacked. Holland claimed that Major League Baseball was looking into the incident.[11] As of April 1, 2013 no report has been issued on the investigation.

References

  1. ^ Rogers, Tim (October 25, 2011). "Open Letter To Derek Holland". D Magazine. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
  2. ^ Booher, Kary (April 2, 2009). "A New Pitch:Rangers emphasize long tossing, live BP for pitchers". Baseball America. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
  3. ^ "Derek Holland's Nickname is Dutch Oven". Larrybrownsports.com. May 13, 2010. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  4. ^ "PITCHf/x Player Card: Derek Holland". BrooksBaseball.net. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  5. ^ Finn, Dewey (August 27, 2008). "Where did this guy come from? Derek Holland". Minorleagueball.com. Retrieved October 25, 2010.
  6. ^ "Derek Holland at ESPN". Espn.go.com. October 9, 1986. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  7. ^ "Texas Rangers at Cleveland Indians, June 4, 2011". Mlb.mlb.com. June 4, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  8. ^ "Texas Rangers at Toronto Blue Jays, July 30, 2011". Mlb.mlb.com. July 30, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Derek Holland Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  10. ^ "Texas Rangers Top 10 Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  11. ^ [1]

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