Mark Holliman

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #27 prospect in 2008
  Holliman has the best command in the system, and never was it more on display than on June 21. Though he worked at 84-85 mph with his fastball, he threw a seven-inning no-hitter, with a lone walk all that stood between him and a perfect game. Holliman had a low-90s fastball in college but now operates at 84-88 mph. When he first broke into pro ball, he tried to overpower hitters with his fastball, and now he feels more comfortable pacing himself in cruise control. At times he can reach back for a 92-mph heater when he needs one, and at others he'll find that he can't just dial up plus velocity at will. Holliman mixes his fastball with a curveball, slider and changeup. There's divided opinion as to which of his breaking balls is better, but all three of his secondary offerings are mostly average at best. Holliman has a short-arm delivery, but it doesn't affect his ability to locate his pitches. He helps his cause by doing all the little things well, such as fielding his position (one error in 40 chances last year), holding runners (40 percent of basestealers were thrown out on his watch) and even hitting (he batted .229 with two homers, including one in his no-hitter). Holliman is on the small side, but he hasn't missed a start while pitching 305 innings in his first two pro seasons. He did fade in August, going 2-3, 5.50, so the Cubs would like to see him get stronger. Projected as a No. 5 starter or a middle reliver, Hollman will pitch in Triple-A this season.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #23 prospect in 2007
  Holliman faced a tough decision to sign in 2005 and spent most of the summer making up his mind. Mississippi had fallen one game short of the College World Series, while he came up one strikeout shy of the school's career record held by former big leaguer Jeff Calhoun. He agreed to a $385,000 bonus that August but didn't make his pro debut until 2006. The Cubs had a number of young arms for their low Class A rotation and they knew Holliman was mentally tough, so they sent him to high Class A to begin his career. He competed well with average stuff. After showing a 90-92 mph fastball in college, he worked more at 88-91 last season. He uses both a curveball and a slider, and his curve shows signs of becoming a plus pitch. He also has a changeup that helped him deal with lefties (.237 average, .329 slugging) more effectively than righties (.244 average, .390 slugging) in 2006. Holliman isn't tall but does a good job of keeping his pitches down in the zone. Headed for Double-A, he profiles as a back-of-the rotation starter.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #26 prospect in 2006
  Holliman left some unfinished business at Mississippi in 2005. He and the Rebels lost to Texas in a thrilling super-regional, and he finished his junior season with 281 career strikeouts, one shy of the school record held by former big leaguer Jeff Calhoun. But after deliberating for most of the summer, Holliman signed as a third-round pick for $385,000. He joined the Cubs for instructional league and made a good initial impression. He throws a 90-92 mph fastball that topped out at 94 in college, though at 6-foot-1 he doesn't always do a good job of leveraging it down in the strike zone. He needs to locate it better because it's very hittable when he leaves it up. Both his curveball and slider are plus pitches at times, and he also throws a changeup. His ability to deliver strikes and his strong body allow him to work deep into games. Though he missed what would have been his first pro summer, the Cubs think he's advanced enough to still advance quickly. He'll make his debut at one of their Class A affiliates.