DUNEDIN, Fla. – Clay Holmes plans to make one more start in Mets camp before taking on his next spring challenge: the World Baseball Classic.
The right-hander first talked about participating in the tournament last year after Andy Pettitte, Team USA’s pitching coach, contacted him.
“He said he wanted me to be a part of the team, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to do so,” Holmes said after making his first Grapefruit League start Monday. “I think Andy’s world, having someone like him who believed in me, was in my corner and wanted me to be part of the team, was special and meant something.”
It is a new step in Holmes’ career.
It was just a year ago that he entered spring training with questions about whether he could be successful as a starter after breaking out as a reliever with the Yankees, where he met Pettitte.
Holmes ended up throwing 165 ²/₃ innings, just three fewer than team leader David Peterson.
“Last year I knew a cloud was following me,” Holmes said. “ ‘How many innings can you pitch?’ I never doubted myself. It’s nice to know that I can do that, [but] it doesn’t make it any easier this year. I just have something to build on.”
Holmes’ 2025 didn’t go entirely smoothly.
After posting a 2.99 ERA over his first 17 starts, he pitched to a 4.52 ERA over his last 14 starts — excluding two relief appearances in September.
This year, Holmes is once again a full-time starter and is increasing his workload with the WBC.
Before the right-hander made his first start of the spring against Toronto at TD Ballpark, Carlos Mendoza sounded unconcerned about Holmes throwing too much.
“He’s a guy who takes very little time to throw,” the Mets manager said. “We don’t do anything different.”
According to Mendoza, Holmes’ inclusion in the WBC will not affect anything.
“It’s basically the same progress as last year,” Mendoza said. “The WBC has nothing to do with it. It’s an honor for him. He is so meticulous in his preparation and training in the offseason.”
Holmes allowed just one hit in 3 ²/₃ innings in a 4-3 win, but that hit was a two-run, 431-foot homer to center by Kazuma Okamoto on a curveball that Holmes left behind.
Okamoto, who signed with Toronto this offseason, will play for Team Japan in the WBC.
Holmes joked that he might be able to use the bad pitch to his advantage next month.
“Maybe he’ll go back to his Japanese teammates and say, ‘He’s throwing a big curveball to righties,’” Holmes said.
Holmes walked two and struck out three during a 57-pitch outing.
“He’s a big part of our rotation,” Mendoza said. “He was super consistent for us last year and it wasn’t easy to make that transition. People were talking [about] collection limits and things like that, and we never put a limit on him. It’s Year 2 and he remains a big part of our rotation.”
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