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The unheralded ‘STUD’ behind Yankees’ hot start

Originally posted on ClutchPoints | By Ryan Bologna | Last updated 5/14/24

The New York Yankees are off to a hot start in 2024, seemingly putting their 2023 struggles behind them while sitting at 27-15, and one of the biggest parts of the success is the team’s bullpen, which has been one of the best in baseball. That group is headlined by closer Clay Holmes, who has been dominant and is the only qualified reliever to not give up an earned run yet this season. Luke Weaver made a bold declaration on Holmes this season.

“STUD — all capital letters there,” Luke Weaver said, via Jorge Castillo of ESPN.

Luke Weaver, who has been dominant in his own right this season, raved about Holmes. In 17 games this season, Holmes has 12 saves and still has a 0.00 ERA, according to MLB.com. Although they have not spent big money on the bullpen like they did a few years ago with players like Aroldis Chapman and Zack Britton, the Yankees have put together a top unit. This allows them to allocate more money to other areas and build a more complete team.

Holmes is a big part of that, and so is Weaver, along with other pitchers the Yankees have had in recent years that have helped out in the bullpen. A lot of the credit goes to pitching coach Matt Blake for finding diamonds in the rough.

Clay Holmes shows why Matt Blake is one of the Yankees’ biggest assets

New York Yankees pitcher Clay Holmes (35) and catcher Jose Trevino (39) celebrate after they beat the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. © Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Holmes was acquired in an under-the-radar trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2021 season. While with the Pirates, Holmes was known as a ground ball pitcher who did not have great control. When Holmes does struggle, it is those command issues that do crop up. Obviously, he has not struggled very much this year, and he has not struggled very much since joining the Yankees in general. He has been a great acquisition and one of the main examples of Blake finding diamonds in the rough.

There are plenty of examples of this, whether it is developing talent from within or picking up veteran relievers who have not been maximized.

Weaver, as mentioned before, has been great this season. He currently has a 2.42 ERA in 15 games so far this season, according to MLB.com. He was a starting pitcher in the past and was brought in late in the 2023 season, and Blake himself said there was something the Yankees saw that they believed they could work with. they were right.

Another example on the current team is Ian Hamilton, who has been a valuable member of the bullpen over the last two seasons. Michael King is another example. He was brought up through the Yankees’ system and was in long relief for a few seasons, before serving as a starting pitcher down the stretch in 2023 and performing well enough to be the centerpiece of the Juan Soto trade with the San Diego Padres.

The Yankees will look to keep rolling, and if they do, the bullpen will be a huge part of that.

This article first appeared on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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