Kankakee Times

Colin Holderman's fast start in the New York Mets' organization may be the only thing that rivals the speed of his fastball.

The Bradley-Bourbonnais High School alumnus joined the Mets' minor-league affiliate in Kingsport, Tennessee, in late June and has been putting up stellar statistics ever since. Holderman, a right-handed relief pitcher, was 1-0 with a save in six appearances as of Monday morning, according to Kingsport's website.

It's just more good stuff for a terrific summer for Holderman, who was named the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Baseball Player of the Year in late June, about the same time he was drafted in the ninth round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft.

“When Colin got drafted, I was so happy for him and his family,” Kevin Arthur, Holderman's high school coach, said in an email interview with the Kankakee Times. “All the years of hard work and dedication to the game that he and his parents put in paid off. He got to achieve something that every little boy dreams of when they start playing the great game of baseball.”

Arthur coached Holderman for three years and saw the right-hander take on a leadership role over the last two seasons. Arthur praised Holderman for leading by example, driving teammates to compete at all times.

“With Colin's work ethic and coachability, we knew he was on a good path,” Arthur said. “The coaches thought that he had a good chance of being drafted if he kept working hard and applied himself.”

Holderman's high-school excellence led to his stellar showings at Heartland Community College in Illinois. Last season, according to njcaa.org, Holderman started 12 games and posted an 8-1 record with a 1.57 earned-run average and 92 strikeouts in 74 1/3 innings. His strikeout total put him in the top 15 nationally in that category.

Holderman also got the job done at the plate, finishing in the top five nationally in batting average (.489), on-base percentage (.565) and slugging percentage (.831). He had committed to transferring to Mississippi State, but the Mets came a-calling in the draft and offered him a deal worth $400,000, according to njcaa.org.

Holderman's pitching abilities are obvious. On ESPN.com, Tommy Tanous, the Mets' amateur-scouting director, talked about Holderman's fastball, which can reach 96 mph, and his “advanced slider.” Arthur cited another key to Holderman's success: being able to throw all pitches for strikes.

“He keeps the hitter from getting comfortable in a hitter's count,” Arthur said. “Also, not walking many batters keeps his stress pitch down, which allows him to go deeper into the game.”

It didn't take long for Holderman to hit the mound for Kingsport, which plays in the rookie-level Appalachian League, after he was drafted. According to Kingsport's website, he was assigned to the team on June 22. Then, Holderman made his first appearance for Kingsport on June 23 in a home game against Elizabethton, an affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. He pitched two-thirds of a scoreless inning, striking out one batter and allowing one hit.

Holderman earned his first save in his next appearance, on June 28 against the Pulaski Yankees. He got his first win in relief on July 16 against the Burlington Royals.

As of Monday morning, Holderman had a 1.35 ERA and three strikeouts with three walks and six hits allowed in 6 2/3 innings.

Arthur said he's been following Holderman's work through the team's stat sheet.

“He looks like he's doing exactly what is expected of him – competing and winning,” Arthur said.