Padres pitcher Michael King knows what it’s like to transition from reliever to starter.
After acquiring him from the Yankees, San Diego applied the strategy they used with Seth Lugo to move King into a starting role.
Back in New York, the Mets are doing the same with a former Yankees reliever: Clay Holmes.
“He’s the type who can take all the new-school teaching and add it to his arsenal,” King said, via Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The big thing is going to be as a reliever he could throw his sinker 97-100 (mph) and it is unhittable. Now, as a starter, you have to realize you can throw it at 94. You don’t need 98. You can save that for the fifth or sixth inning when you really need it.”
Holmes signed with the Mets in December on a deal worth $38 million over three years.
The 31-year-old last started in a MLB game in 2018 with the Pirates.
He joined the Yankees in 2021 via a trade and since put up a 2.69 ERA over 220 outings. He was a two-time All-Star with the Yankees and recorded a career-high 30 saves in 2024.
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Bridget Hyland may be reached at bhyland@njadvancemedia.com.