NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Grant Holmes was just hanging out in Las Vegas when he learned the Braves were interested in helping him extend his career, which at the time had consisted of eight Minor League seasons.
But don’t let this Sin City reference give you further reason to think Holmes is the real-life version of Kenny Powers. The Braves hurler has often been compared to the irreverent fictional pitcher from HBO’s Eastbound and Down because they both have long curly hair.
“I laugh when people say that because he and I are like complete opposites,” Holmes said. "People think I drink a six-pack of beer after every game. I’ve probably drank six beers in my lifetime. So, the only thing I’ve got going for me is I got the look.”
Holmes is certainly looking like he’s ready to capably fill one of the first four spots within Atlanta’s rotation. The elbow issues that sidelined him for last year’s final two months haven’t been a problem, and he dazzled by recording nine strikeouts over five innings against the Pirates on Thursday.
So, now back to that part about hanging out in Vegas near the end of the 2022 season. Holmes wasn’t there to enjoy the bright lights. He was stuck there after being released by the A’s. The Mets and Nationals were among the teams that showed interest. But against the wishes of his agent, the South Carolina native chose the Braves’ two-year Minor League deal.
Well, the contract length actually just consisted of what was left of 2022 and the entire 2023 season. It was during those first few weeks with the Braves that Holmes toyed with his curveball grip and found a slider that now ranks among one of baseball’s best.
“It was within the first week, honestly,” Holmes said. “My curveball has always been a power curve. I just changed the grip, and I was able to get that hard slider.”
How quickly did the additional breaking ball impact Holmes’ career? Well, he had a 14.3 percent strikeout rate while posting an 8.27 ERA over 37 innings for Triple-A Las Vegas before the A’s released him in 2022. He then had a 28.7 percent strikeout rate while posting a 3.54 ERA over 41 innings for Triple-A Gwinnett in 2023.
Ten years after the Dodgers took him with the 22nd overall selection in the 2014 MLB Draft, Holmes finally got his call to the Majors. He debuted for the Braves with three scoreless innings against the Rays on June 16, 2024. One day shy of the anniversary of his debut, the lifelong Atlanta fan constructed one of the most impressive outings in franchise history.
When Holmes struck out 15 over 6 ⅓ innings against the Rockies on June 15, 2025, he joined Warren Spahn, Spencer Strider and John Smoltz as the only Braves pitchers to ever record 15-plus strikeouts in a game. Spahn set a franchise record with 18 over 15 innings against the Cubs on June 14, 1952. Strider’s 16 strikeouts against the Rockies on Sept. 1, 2022 stands as the only time a Braves pitcher has tallied more than 15 Ks in nine innings or less.
How good was Holmes’ slider in this dominant outing?
The Rockies whiffed with 16 of 28 swings taken against the pitch. Pretty good, huh?
Well, a Braves pitcher has generated a whiff rate above 50 percent with the slider six times during the pitch-tracking era. Strider has accounted for three of those occasions, and Chris Sale set the record with a 67.9 percent whiff rate against his slider while facing the Rockies on April 30, 2025.
“He throws it in good locations and it just has that flight that hitters don’t seem to pick up as easy,” Braves catcher Drake Baldwin said.
The Pirates certainly struggled to track this pitch when they whiffed with 13 of 14 swings against Holmes’ slider last week. Braves veteran catcher Sandy León was behind the plate that night.
“[The slider] was good, but it wasn’t his best,” León said. “I’ve seen it better. This guy is good. He has a lot more pitches.”
Holmes came to camp intent on improving his fastball, which opponents produced a .651 slugging percentage against. At the same time, he wanted to prove the partially torn ulnar collateral ligament seen via an MRI in August was likely pre-existing.
So far, so good. Holmes’s ability to effectively spin his slider has indicated his elbow is strong. His confidence has also been strengthened as he has allowed just three hits over 12 ⅓ scoreless innings thus far.