Clay Holmes has gone from a little-known reliever with bad numbers in Pittsburgh to his second All-Star nod in three years with the Yankees.
The closer was named Sunday to the American League All-Star roster, on which he joins teammates Aaron Judge and Juan Soto in Texas next week.
And unless a pitcher drops out, Luis Gil won’t be on the team as a result of a three-start stretch of miserable performances heading into Sunday that cost the right-hander an almost-certain spot.
Holmes has also not been at his best in recent weeks, but was able to overcome it.
Clay Holmes has collected 19 saves for the Yankees entering Sunday’s game. Charles Wenzelberg
“This place means a lot to me,” Holmes said of the Yankees following the announcement prior to Sunday’s series finale against the Red Sox in The Bronx. “This organization, my teammates, coaches, this is a special place to me. To be able to represent the team is something I don’t take lightly.”
The announcement came despite the fact Holmes hasn’t pitched much like an All-Star the past few weeks.
Holmes has been one of many Yankees stuck in a rough patch since mid-June, when the team began to struggle.
Clay Holmes also made the All-Star Game in 2022. Charles WenzelbergIn his past seven appearances — beginning on June 13, the right-hander has allowed 11 hits, eight earned runs and a pair of homers in 6 ²/₃ innings.
He also has blown a pair of saves in that stretch.
Prior to the recent downturn, though, Holmes was excellent.
In his first 30 appearances this season, Holmes was largely dominant, giving up just four earned runs and 28 hits in 29 ¹/₃ innings.
Asked if he expected to be picked to head to Arlington, Texas, Holmes acknowledged his shaky performance of late.
“I was probably a little surprised,’’ said Holmes, 31, who was made the team in 2022, his first full season with the Yankees. “The All-Star Game is a hard thing to make. I don’t think you could ever fully expect it. I’m not going in with a zero ERA.”
Holmes’ slump may be tied to a lack of save chances thanks to the Yankees’ ugly play of late.
The Yankees entered Sunday’s game having lost 15 of their previous 21 games — and Holmes has played a role in their troubles.
Most recently, he blew a save against Boston on Friday, when they were one out away from a much-needed victory.
But Holmes said his path that led him from the Pirates, where he never had much success, to the Yankees and career resurgence, has helped get him through shaky stretches.
“When you do reflect back, it puts things in perspective,’’ Holmes said. “You don’t get fully high or fully low where you are in the moment.”
