Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | LAA | RHP/OF | 12 | 45 |
Grades Update: Jan 2021
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | CH | Cont/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 40 | 55 | 50 | 55 | 45/40 |
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 40 | 45 | 60 | 55 |
Jan 2021 Report
Evaluator: Danny Brackman
Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft, Round 5
RuleV: 2022
Physical Description: Big frame with high waist, thick legs, and broad shoulders. Has grown considerably since being drafted. Needs to be careful adding much more weight but current size combined with underlying athletic capabilities are highly intriguing.
Hitter Tools:
Hit: Wide stance with hips opening early to generate lots of torque and bat-speed. Tendency to pull his head causes swing and miss, though athleticism does bail him out at times. Somewhat tense at the plate and can rush through lever mechanisms, leading to some ugly swings. Big strides forward have been made and reportedly continued at the ATS and fall instructs.Grade:45
Power: Inconsistent bat-path has led to less than expected power from someone of Holmes' size and athletic ability. With the continued tinkering of swing mechanics, there's a chance he unlocked something substantial, though for now, his recorded exit velocities leave much to be desired (Avg. 81 EV Max 101 EV according to Fangraphs). Rotational ability indicates there is still some potential there. Grade: 40
Field: Athleticism, foot speed, and arm strength indicate above average potential in an outfield corner, but the Angels' plans on continuing his development as a 2-way indicate he likely won't spend much time in the field, if any at all. So far, he's only entered the lineup as a DH when not pitching, likely to limit physical workload. Could be at least an average defender, however current defensive development is stifled. Grade: 45
Arm: Above-average arm strength with very good carry and accuracy. Ability to make any throw from all three outfield positions. Grade: 60
Run: Very good foot speed for someone of his size. Career 7 of 8 stealing bases in 41 minor league games between 2018-19. Long strides cover lots of ground after an explosive first step. Could lose some running ability as his body continues to grow as he ages, though for now that doesn't appear to be a concern. Grade: 55
Pitcher Tools:
Mechanics: Has switched to a hybrid wind-up since going pro to help repeatability. Often inconsistent timing and tempo in the delivery leads to pitches spraying around the zone. Effective hip hinge utilizes his strong lower half well. Fluid arm action; high 3/4 slot; good upper half mobility, and size/athleticism indicate solid durability. Continuing to feel out and get comfortable with his mechanics as his body finishes developing is key.
Fastball: Sits in the low 90s and can reach back for 95-96. Inconsistent delivery reflected by inconsistent velo at times. Throws both a 2-seam and 4-seam. Good arm-side run on the 2-seam used for inducing weaker contact. Spin rates north of 2400, nearly perfect spin efficiency, a straight-over-the-top axis, and good extension make the 4-seam play even when velo is down. Raw metrics are well above average, so a velo spike could be huge. Grade: 55
Curveball: Mid-high 70s slurvy bender. Not overly sharp but total horizontal+vertical movement is still solid. Plays nicely when thrown to the glove side. Doesn't throw it a ton as he favors the FB/CH more, though it still appears to be a solid third offering. Either embracing the slurve and increasing spin efficiency a bit or converting to a true slider and increasing gyro degree could improve pitch ceiling. Grade: 50
Changeup: Low 80s 2-seam grip with fantastic seam-shifted wake. Heavy arm-side fade and downward sink make the pitch a true swing-and-miss offering. Highly effective against both LHH and RHH. Advanced feel at a young age for what is often considered to be the hardest pitch to develop. Grade: 55
Control and Command: Impressive strikeout rates somewhat negated by ugly walk rates. Tendency to be effectively wild. Each pitch has a unique movement profile and will take time to harness. His stuff is good enough to get outs simply by throwing near the zone, as he has done so far, but continued improvement in the command department will determine Holmes' future as either a starter or a reliever. Control: 45 | Command: 40
Overall: A legitimate 2-way prospect, Holmes brings some exciting untapped potential to both the plate and the mound. Reports on his development and work ethic are continuing to trend in the positive direction. There are gaps that need to be filled in rather quickly, and there's a good chance Holmes stops hitting to focus on pitching, but that isn't happening just yet.
OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench or Platoon | Spot Starter or Low-Leverage Reliever
Risk: Extreme
