Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Relief Pitcher – Greg Holland
It speaks volumes to Greg Holland’s toughness and ability that he was able to perform as well as he did last season, considering he was pitching with a torn elbow ligament since August 2014. The fact that he was able to turn in a performance that was better than league average, while managing to record 32 saves, was truly impressive.
A two time All-Star, Holland had been one of the most dominant closers in baseball prior to his injury. In the pantheon of top relievers, he was right there with Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman as a tier above any other. Even with that injury, Holland was still a solid closer, and a better option than what quite a few teams had in the back of their bullpen.
A free agent, Holland is likely to be lost for all of next season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. While his future with the Royals is in doubt, he has already made his mark upon the record books. Overall, Holland notched 145 saves while recording a 2.42 ERA and a 1.123 WHiP, striking out 430 batters in 319.2 innings.
Hopefully, Greg Holland will be able to recover and once again be that dominant reliever he had been in the past. It is just a question of where his career will continue.
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