The Transition from Reliever to Starter: Examining Jeff Hoffman and Clay Holmes
In the world of Major League Baseball, the ability to adapt and thrive in different roles is crucial for pitchers. Two free-agent relievers, Jeff Hoffman and Clay Holmes, have recently sparked discussions about their potential transition to starting pitchers. This article explores their successful seasons, the mechanics behind their evolution, and what it might take for these talented players to make that shift from the bullpen to the starting rotation.
Jeff Hoffman, for many, might not seem like an ideal candidate for a starting role given his history. He spent the first six years of his career as a starter but struggled significantly, particularly during his tenure with the Colorado Rockies — an organization noted for its struggles with pitching development. The challenging conditions in Colorado, combined with Hoffman’s early career inconsistencies, led to his demotion back to the bullpen.
When the Cincinnati Reds picked him up at the beginning of the 2021 season, they initially started him. But, sensing a lack of effectiveness, they shifted him to a relief role in July of that year. After two mediocre seasons with the Reds, Hoffman's career took off in 2023 with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Under the guidance of renowned pitching coach Caleb Cotham, Hoffman's repertoire underwent a significant transformation. Most notably, his slider usage jumped from 24% to nearly 50%, thanks in part to a grip change that altered the pitch's break and velocity. Remarkably, his slider's velocity increased by almost 7 mph, and his fastball and splitter also saw upticks in speed.
Hoffman himself attributed this sudden uptick in performance to a newfound emphasis on his athleticism instead of strict mechanical adherence. By allowing himself to pitch more fluidly and intuitively, he rekindled not only his speed but also improved the sharpness of his pitches, which translated into better results in high-leverage scenarios. Over the past two seasons, Hoffman has contributed significantly to the Phillies, with a 3.5 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) on FanGraphs — placing him among the top-five relievers in the game.
Analyzing Hoffman's Potential as a Starter
As teams evaluate Hoffman's potential as a starter, several factors come into play:
Pitch Mix: Hoffman's pitch repertoire is diverse. In addition to his improved slider, he can effectively employ a four-pitch mix, which is vital for a starting pitcher.
Command: Hoffman's command appears average according to FanGraphs’ metrics, a critical aspect when transitioning between roles.
Velocity: While velocity often drops when transitioning from reliever to starter, Hoffman's performance suggests he could sit around 95-96 mph, which is workable for a starting pitcher.
However, the primary concern surrounding Hoffman remains his health. At 32 years old, he hasn't completed 100 innings since 2019, raising significant questions about his durability in a starting role.
The Value Proposition: Small Market Teams and Conversion Candidates
Despite these health concerns, Hoffman remains a prime candidate for a team looking to capitalize on value within the market. Small market teams can realistically offer him a contract in the range of $10-12 million annually, simultaneously ensuring job security and potentially unlocking significant value by converting him to a starter role.
Crucially, an often-overlooked factor in pitcher health and performance is understanding the relationship between velocity and torque. Pitchers that generate similar velocity can experience vastly different levels of stress depending on their mechanics. It’s vital for teams to assess where a pitcher fits into this spectrum to predict their potential durability as a starter.
Next up is Clay Holmes, a reliever whose recent performances with the New York Yankees have turned heads. Over the last three seasons, Holmes has emerged as a top-tier reliever, consistently producing over 60 innings each year while racking up an impressive 74 saves.
Holmes made crucial adjustments upon joining the Yankees, notably changing his slider to a sweeper — a vital development during the rising trend of sweepers in MLB. By maximizing his pitch arsenal, which includes a uniquely effective sinker, Holmes has solidified his place among the top relievers, highlighting good organizational pitching development.
His sinker stands out due to its unique characteristics, including a high release point and minimal vertical break, which translates into a remarkable ground ball rate. This high performance raises the question of whether Holmes could convert to a starting pitcher, allowing him to maintain that same effectiveness through an extended lineup.
Navigating the Path of Potential Conversion
The discussion around Holmes' potential as a starter hinges on several factors:
Pitch Arsenal: His current repertoire already suggests versatility that could be adapted for a starting role, although he may benefit from introducing a changeup or separator pitch.
Durability: Similar to Hoffman, one of the most crucial aspects is how quickly teams can adapt him to new demands, prepping his body for an increased workload.
A critical consideration is to proactively manage his off-season regime to prepare for the transition. For successful conversion to happen, teams must be willing to take that chance based on objective data and insights into Holmes’ mechanics and performance metrics.
Conclusion: A Calculated Risk
For a small market team, investing in relievers like Hoffman and Holmes could yield long-term benefits — assuming a thoughtful application of pitching development and a commitment to understanding the pitcher’s mechanics.
As the market evolves and teams continue searching for untapped potential, the possibility remains that these two pitchers could redefine their careers. Ultimately, the intersection of talent, development, health, and a willingness to explore new roles makes the transition from reliever to starter an intriguing topic to monitor in the upcoming off-season.
Part 1/10:
The Transition from Reliever to Starter: Examining Jeff Hoffman and Clay Holmes
In the world of Major League Baseball, the ability to adapt and thrive in different roles is crucial for pitchers. Two free-agent relievers, Jeff Hoffman and Clay Holmes, have recently sparked discussions about their potential transition to starting pitchers. This article explores their successful seasons, the mechanics behind their evolution, and what it might take for these talented players to make that shift from the bullpen to the starting rotation.
Jeff Hoffman: From Struggles to Success
Part 2/10:
Jeff Hoffman, for many, might not seem like an ideal candidate for a starting role given his history. He spent the first six years of his career as a starter but struggled significantly, particularly during his tenure with the Colorado Rockies — an organization noted for its struggles with pitching development. The challenging conditions in Colorado, combined with Hoffman’s early career inconsistencies, led to his demotion back to the bullpen.
When the Cincinnati Reds picked him up at the beginning of the 2021 season, they initially started him. But, sensing a lack of effectiveness, they shifted him to a relief role in July of that year. After two mediocre seasons with the Reds, Hoffman's career took off in 2023 with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Part 3/10:
Under the guidance of renowned pitching coach Caleb Cotham, Hoffman's repertoire underwent a significant transformation. Most notably, his slider usage jumped from 24% to nearly 50%, thanks in part to a grip change that altered the pitch's break and velocity. Remarkably, his slider's velocity increased by almost 7 mph, and his fastball and splitter also saw upticks in speed.
Part 4/10:
Hoffman himself attributed this sudden uptick in performance to a newfound emphasis on his athleticism instead of strict mechanical adherence. By allowing himself to pitch more fluidly and intuitively, he rekindled not only his speed but also improved the sharpness of his pitches, which translated into better results in high-leverage scenarios. Over the past two seasons, Hoffman has contributed significantly to the Phillies, with a 3.5 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) on FanGraphs — placing him among the top-five relievers in the game.
Analyzing Hoffman's Potential as a Starter
As teams evaluate Hoffman's potential as a starter, several factors come into play:
Part 5/10:
Pitch Mix: Hoffman's pitch repertoire is diverse. In addition to his improved slider, he can effectively employ a four-pitch mix, which is vital for a starting pitcher.
Command: Hoffman's command appears average according to FanGraphs’ metrics, a critical aspect when transitioning between roles.
Velocity: While velocity often drops when transitioning from reliever to starter, Hoffman's performance suggests he could sit around 95-96 mph, which is workable for a starting pitcher.
However, the primary concern surrounding Hoffman remains his health. At 32 years old, he hasn't completed 100 innings since 2019, raising significant questions about his durability in a starting role.
The Value Proposition: Small Market Teams and Conversion Candidates
Part 6/10:
Despite these health concerns, Hoffman remains a prime candidate for a team looking to capitalize on value within the market. Small market teams can realistically offer him a contract in the range of $10-12 million annually, simultaneously ensuring job security and potentially unlocking significant value by converting him to a starter role.
Crucially, an often-overlooked factor in pitcher health and performance is understanding the relationship between velocity and torque. Pitchers that generate similar velocity can experience vastly different levels of stress depending on their mechanics. It’s vital for teams to assess where a pitcher fits into this spectrum to predict their potential durability as a starter.
Clay Holmes: A Unique Case
Part 7/10:
Next up is Clay Holmes, a reliever whose recent performances with the New York Yankees have turned heads. Over the last three seasons, Holmes has emerged as a top-tier reliever, consistently producing over 60 innings each year while racking up an impressive 74 saves.
Holmes made crucial adjustments upon joining the Yankees, notably changing his slider to a sweeper — a vital development during the rising trend of sweepers in MLB. By maximizing his pitch arsenal, which includes a uniquely effective sinker, Holmes has solidified his place among the top relievers, highlighting good organizational pitching development.
Part 8/10:
His sinker stands out due to its unique characteristics, including a high release point and minimal vertical break, which translates into a remarkable ground ball rate. This high performance raises the question of whether Holmes could convert to a starting pitcher, allowing him to maintain that same effectiveness through an extended lineup.
Navigating the Path of Potential Conversion
The discussion around Holmes' potential as a starter hinges on several factors:
Part 9/10:
A critical consideration is to proactively manage his off-season regime to prepare for the transition. For successful conversion to happen, teams must be willing to take that chance based on objective data and insights into Holmes’ mechanics and performance metrics.
Conclusion: A Calculated Risk
For a small market team, investing in relievers like Hoffman and Holmes could yield long-term benefits — assuming a thoughtful application of pitching development and a commitment to understanding the pitcher’s mechanics.
Part 10/10:
As the market evolves and teams continue searching for untapped potential, the possibility remains that these two pitchers could redefine their careers. Ultimately, the intersection of talent, development, health, and a willingness to explore new roles makes the transition from reliever to starter an intriguing topic to monitor in the upcoming off-season.