Holman makes MLB debut, 11 years after throwing no-no in LLWS
OAKLAND -- Manager Mark Kotsay wanted to provide a soft landing spot for Grant Holman when the A¡¯s No. 21 prospect made his Major League debut.
Instead, a depleted bullpen forced him to put Holman in with two on and two outs with the A¡¯s leading 2-0 in the seventh inning in Saturday's contest.
Holman got pinch-hitter Casey Schmitt to ground out to second and then recorded his first career strikeout against Tyler Fitzgerald in the eighth to cap a successful debut in the A¡¯s 2-0 win over the Giants at the Coliseum.
¡°He came in very calm and under control, and the message was just throw strike one, and he did,¡± Kotsay said. ¡°For him, first Major League outing, first appearance, I thought he did a great job.¡±
Holman was called up to the Majors earlier on Saturday, 11 years and one day after throwing an extra-inning no-hitter in the Little League World Series.
"It was awesome, a ton of fun,¡± Holman said of his debut. ¡°A moment I¡¯ve been looking forward to my whole life and I¡¯d say it lived up to it.¡±
Holman also allowed a double to Grant McCray. Holman entered the game in a high-leverage situation because relievers Tyler Ferguson (44 pitches on Thursday) and Austin Adams (right elbow tightness) were unavailable.
¡°I don¡¯t even know how to put it into words,¡± Holman said. ¡°You work so hard to get to this point, and it¡¯s just awesome. Just elated and I can¡¯t wait to go out there and do it again.¡±
The right-hander was promoted after dominating hitters in Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas this season, going 4-0 with a 0.55 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in 40 games.
¡°[Holman¡¯s] had a pretty exceptional year to this point,¡± Kotsay said pregame. ¡°Definitely earned this promotion from a performance standpoint. We¡¯re excited to have him and get a look at him.¡±
The Chula Vista, Calif., native had 54 strikeouts and nine saves in 48 2/3 innings this season in the Minors.
Holman was a two-way player at Cal but gave up playing first base to focus on pitching in his junior year. He was drafted by the A¡¯s in the sixth round in 2021 and began his pro career as a starter, but transitioned to the bullpen in 2023. He started this season as the closer in Midland before throwing 19 1/3 scoreless innings and moving up to Las Vegas.
Holman joined fellow 2021 draftee Mason Miller in Oakland's 'pen.
His callup comes during Players¡¯ Weekend, which culminates in the Yankees-Tigers game Sunday night in Williamsport, Pa., the host of the Little League World Series and the site of one of Holman¡¯s most memorable games.
Holman struck out 13 for California in seven innings in a 3-0 victory over Michigan in 2013, becoming the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter since the 85-pitch limit was introduced in 2007. It was also the first extra-inning no-hitter in the LLWS since 1979.