Bradley Holt Stats & Scouting Report

IP	427
ERA	4.953
WHIP	1.478
BB/9	5.185
SO/9	8.726

Full name Bradley David Holt
Born 10/13/1986 in Albemarle, NC
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School UNC Wilmington
Drafted in the C-A round (33rd overall) by the New York Mets in 2008 (signed for $1,040,000).

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Holt emerged this spring as the ace of a surging Seahawks baseball team. His fastball has improved since arriving in Wilmington and now sits between 92-94 mph, touching 96. Not only does he have a big arm, but he is able to maintain his velocity deep into games. However, the major difference between this year's Holt from the past is his vastly improved command. Holt at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, has a perfect pro body with a clean delivery and a first-round arm. He is coordinated and athletic on the mound, attacking hitters with his fastball. The only thing holding him back is the lack of a usable secondary pitch. He offers a slider with loose spin and tends to slow his body and arm down when throwing it. Even though his secondary stuff is in need of refinement, teams will not walk away from the pro body, strong arm and life on the fastball.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Holt dominated the short-season New York-Penn League after signing for $1.04 million as the 33rd overall pick in 2008, so the Mets aggressively promoted him to Double-A early in his first full pro season. He injured his ankle his first time out and ran up a 6.21 ERA in 11 starts for Binghamton, and his career has spiraled downward since. In 2010, he posted an 8.34 ERA and allowed more baserunners per nine innings (19.6) than any minor leaguer with as many as his 94 innings. After more bloodshed in 2011, New York conceded that he lacks the focus to make it as a starter and shifted him to the bullpen in late June. Holt quickly took to a relief role, pushing his strikeout (9.6) and walk (4.1) per nine innings rates to his best since his pro debut. Holt's fastball ranged from 89-92 mph with sinking and tailing action when he was a starter, and he added 2-3 mph coming out of the bullpen. His mid-70s curveball shows more consistent bite in shorter stints, too. He also owns a sinking changeup that he throws with good arm speed. If his mechanics didn't get out of whack so frequently, Holt would have the stuff to profile as a No. 3 or 4 starter, but his track record says otherwise. At this stage, the Mets would be happy if Holt becomes a middle reliever.
Signed for $1.04 million as 33rd overall pick in 2008, Holt dominated in his pro debut and earned a quick promotion to Double-A the next year. He injured his ankle in his first start for Binghamton, missed three weeks and never recovered, running up a 6.62 ERA over his final 10 starts. His misadventures continued in 2010 when he hurt his right wrist in spring training, setting the stage for a season in which he allowed more baserunners per nine innings (19.6) than any minor leaguer with as many as his 95 innings. According to scouts, Holt still had plus stuff in 2010. They think his problems stemmed from a lack of focus as well as a new, overly mechanical delivery that caused his front side to open early. At his best, Holt locates his 92-94 mph four-seam fastball down in the zone, mixing in an occasional low-90s cutter. He can spin a high- 70s curveball with occasional sharp bite and shows feel for a low-80s changeup with sink, but his poor command undermines both pitches. His curve often breaks too early to convince batters to commit. Holt has the stuff to profile as a No. 3 starter, but that ceiling seems impossibly tall now. He had a fine showing in instructional league and in the Arizona Fall League, giving hope he'll succeed in his third try at Double-A in 2011.
The 33rd choice in the 2008 draft (a supplemental pick received when Tom Glavine returned to the Braves), Holt signed for $1.04 million. He allowed three homers and nine runs in his first start of 2009, then gave up just seven runs over his next eight starts to earn a promotion to Double-A. He injured his ankle after his first outing with Binghamton, missed three weeks and wasn't the same afterward. Holt has the stuff to be a No. 3 or No. 4 starter. He has a solid four-seam fastball, which ranges from 88-93 mph and tops out at 95, as well as a hard 75-78 mph curveball and a 79-81 mph changeup. He gets good extension to the plate and drive from his legs. Once he fills out, his frame should lend itself to durability. Holt's biggest problem is a tendency to overthrow. He's infatuated with strikeouts and tries to power his way out of jams, which costs him command. Maintaining a more consistent release point also will help him locate his pitches better. He throws his changeup too hard at times, and it's his least effective pitch. Though he'll attend big league camp, Holt isn't ready to compete for a rotation spot in New York. He could return to Double-A, teaming with Jenrry Mejia once again, then advance to Triple-A during the year.
Though he was their third choice in the 2008 draft at No. 33 overall, the Mets view Holt as their top pick in retrospect, ahead of first-rounders Ike Davis and Reese Havens. Signed for $1.04 million, he led the short-season New York Penn League in ERA (1.87), strikeouts (96), strikeouts per nine innings (11.9) and opponent average (.171). Holt's fastball typically ranges from 93-96 mph and registers as high as 98. He has good control of the pitch. He has a strong frame and solid mechanics, so durability shouldn't be an issue. He's mentally tough, with the makeup to get out of jams as a starter or finish games as a closer. Holt relies mainly on his fastball for success. He'll flash some average or plus sliders, but he usually holds on to it too long before releasing it. His changeup is even more raw. He has trouble throwing his secondary pitches for strikes and ranked second in the NY-P with 33 walks. Mets farm director Tony Bernazard compares Holt to Mike Pelfrey and considers him ahead of Pelfrey at a similar stage of their careers. Holt could open 2009 in the Binghamton rotation and appear in the majors by season's end. Some scouts think he's destined to be a reliever, but New York is grooming him as a starter for now.

Minor League Top Prospects

Holt went in the supplemental first round of the 2008 draft thanks to his above-average fastball, loose arm and prototype pitcher's frame. He dominated the NY-P despite throwing 90 percent heaters, leading the league in ERA (1.87) and strikeouts (96 in 72 innings). He commands his fastball very well in the zone and throws it at 93-96 mph with excellent life. Holt repeats his easy delivery and throws from a downhill angle. Occasionally he flashes an average or better slider around 80 mph, but most of the time he holds onto the slider too long when he throws it. Scouts are encouraged that he at least repeats the pitch, giving reason to believe he could throw an average slider with a couple of mechanical adjustments and some repetition. Every once in a great while, Holt also throws a 79 mph changeup, but the pitch remains very raw. The Mets kept him in the rotation this summer, though some scouts think he profiles better as a reliever. If he switches to that role, he could advance quickly, thanks to his fastball and New York's willingness to expedite relievers to the majors.