Pirates A to Z: Colin Holderman shined in setup role, including an immaculate inning

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z, an alphabetical, player-by-player look at the 40-man roster.

Player: Colin Holderman

Position: Relief pitcher

Throws: Right

Age: 28

Height: 6-foot-7

Weight: 240 pounds

2023 MLB statistics: Went 0-3 with a 3.86 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and two saves, with 58 strikeouts and 20 walks in 56 innings over 58 appearances.

Contract: Not eligible for arbitration until 2026.

Acquired: From the New York Mets in exchange for designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach in July 2022.

This past season: Holderman had served as the setup man for All-Star closer David Bednar before a right shoulder impingement ended his rookie season, so Holderman wanted to show that he could resume that role.

“I’m excited to show why I should be at the back end of the bullpen every single night,” Holderman said. “My goal is to set up this year. That’s really what I want to do, and I’m going to prove why I should be that going into the season. I want to be in the most important part of the game. I thrive in those moments. That’s why I like to throw in the seventh, eighth, ninth inning.”

Colin Holderman strikes him out.
Austin Hedges throws him out. pic.twitter.com/HDPs9gfGXR

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 30, 2023

Holderman’s first 13 appearances all came in the eighth inning.

When the Pirates turned to him in the seventh at Tampa Bay on May 4, Holderman delivered a memorable performance. He had the first immaculate inning of the MLB season, throwing all nine of his pitches for strikes to strike out the side in a 3-2 loss to the Rays in a battle between the two teams with the best records in baseball.

“It’s incredible,” Holderman said. “I’m extremely fortunate and thankful that it happened. It didn’t really cross my mind until after it happened. I think that’s for the better, but I’m happy.”

Colin Holderman throws the first immaculate inning of the season!

(MLB x @loanDepot) pic.twitter.com/BLzFXkm8yh

— MLB (@MLB) May 4, 2023

Holderman became the fourth pitcher in franchise history to throw an immaculate inning and the first since Juan Nicasio did so in the eighth inning at St. Louis on July 4, 2016.

The Pirates were trailing the Rays, 2-0, when Holderman came on in the seventh against the Nos. 6-7-8 hitters in the order. He struck out the side by getting seven swings — three for foul balls — and two called strikes.

Holderman got Taylor Walls to foul off the first two pitches before looking at a called third strike on an 84.4 mph sweeper for the first out. Luke Raley fouled off the first pitch, then went down swinging at a cutter. Christian Bethancourt struck out swinging at a sweeper.

“That was really impressive,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said of Holderman. “He came in and obviously threw strikes. His stuff was really good. You don’t see those very often. It was dominant.”

Holderman remained dominant throughout the month. He didn’t allow an earned run in May, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out 14 in 7 2/3 innings over eight games.

On June 5, Holderman had another special moment when he earned his first career save in a 5-4 win over the Oakland A’s. It didn’t come easy, as Holderman gave up three hits against five batters. Esteury Ruiz hit a leadoff single but was thrown out attempting to steal second. Ryan Noda followed with a ground-rule double and Brent Rooker singled to put runners on the corners. But Holderman recovered by getting Aledmys Diaz to fly out to center, then struck out Carlos Perez.

First career MLB save for Colin Holderman! ???? pic.twitter.com/axEKoFhCDV

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 6, 2023

But Holderman posted a 13.50 ERA in five games in June — including three runs on four hits and a walk in a 10-6 loss at the Chicago Cubs on June 14 — before going on the 15-day injured list with right wrist inflammation. He returned to the bullpen June 30.

“He’s a guy that was pitching high-leverage innings for us,” Shelton said. “I’ll follow up … in terms of where he pitches. I think we will find the matchups right now of getting him back acclimated. That could be at the end, it could be earlier than that. It’s nice to have him back because he was a major part of our bullpen early in the year.”

Holderman was largely dominant again for the next two months, with a 2.53 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in 11 appearances in July and a 1.54 ERA and 1.20 WHIP and 16 strikeouts against five walks in 12 appearances in August. He got rocked a couple times over the final month, blowing a lead by giving up four runs on four hits and two walks in the ninth inning of a 7-5 loss to the New York Yankees.

Holderman finished the season with 27 holds, tied for the eight-most in the majors.

Colin Holderman's 2Ks in the 8th pic.twitter.com/gQRVjCAyar

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 13, 2023

The future: Holderman ranked in the 96th percentile in fastball velocity (97.9 mph) and in the 89th percentile in groundball rate (53.8%), per Statcast, thanks to his sinker-sweeper combination.

He appeared to have a lock on the setup role, although righty Carmen Mlodzinski earned high-leverage situations with a strong rookie season.

If Holderman can pitch like he did in April, May, July and August and avoid a repeat of June and September, the Pirates could be poised to have a dangerous back end to their bullpen next season.