Greg Holland Injury: Updates on Royals Pitcher's Elbow and Return
The Kansas City Royals bullpen will be short-handed, as closer Greg Holland is out for the season with an elbow injury. Holland underwent Tommy John surgery in Los Angeles on Oct. 2, according to Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star.
Continue for updates.
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Davis Takes Over as Closer
Thursday, Sept. 24
On Sept. 22, manager Ned Yost announced Wade Davis will serve as the closer in Holland's absence, per Flanagan.
How Holland's Injury Impacts Royals
It's been clear for some time that something is wrong with Holland. The right-hander averaged at least 95.8 mph with his fastball from 2012 to 201414 and had a 1.88 ERA with 284 strikeouts in 196.1 innings. But he hasn't been as dominant this season, as he's compiled a 3.83 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 44.2 innings.
Along with those regressed stats, ESPN Stats & Info noted Sept. 19 that Holland's fastball velocity this month is the worst of his career:
The good news is Davis can fill any role out of the bullpen, sporting a tidy 0.86 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 31 hits allowed in 61.2 innings this season.
However, losing Holland should concern Kansas City fans heading into the postseason. The Royals bullpen—specifically the trio of Holland, Davis and Kelvin Herrera—was the team's biggest asset en route to its World Series appearance in 2014.
Without one part of the three-headed monster pitching, the Royals could be more vulnerable than they have looked at any point during the regular season.
Stats courtesy of FanGraphs.
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