This past week on Irish Heritage night at Keyspan Park, Brad Holt put on one of the most dominating pitching performances in Brooklyn Cyclones history. Facing the Vermont Lake Monsters, Holt allowed no runs and recorded 14 strikeouts in 6 innings of work to improve his record to 3-2.
With a performance like this, Brad Holt is our choice as Cyclones “Player of the Week.”
Holt’s six shutout innings on Irish Heritage night lowered his ERA to 1.57, which is third best in the New York-Penn league. In 34 innings pitched this season, Holt has recorded 51 strikeouts, which is second in the league, and given up only 14 walks.
With any support Holt’s win total could be much higher, but looking at his ERA and strike outs it’s easy to see why the New York Mets were so high on him when they made him the 33rd pick in the supplemental round in the June draft.
This past year while pitching for the University of North Carolina in Wilmington, Holt was very dominant. For the year he recorded an 11-1 record with 95 strikeouts in 91 innings. Obviously in Holt’s brief professional career he has been as dominate in the NY-Penn League as he was while pitching for UNC.
Brooklyn Cyclones pitching coach Hector Berrios likes what he sees out of Brad Holt.
“Brad is one of the best prospects that I have worked with. Before each game we make a plan and then he goes out and executes,” Berrios said. “He has a great fastball, a good change-up and curve, and he’s constantly working on improving his game. He’s one of the hardest workers that I have seen in my years here in Brooklyn.”
Brooklyn Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonso is also very high on Holt.
“Brad keeps the ball low in the zone,” he said. “He uses the corners and when he mixes in his fastball with his change up, he’s very effective. I like his make up, his attitude and of course his ability on the mound. He could be a good one.”
Holt has all the tools to develop into a major league ball player, and hopefully someday we will see him follow former Cyclones alumni Joe Smith, Carlos Muniz and the rest into the big leagues.
