Day 2 update: John Holdzkom
BRADENTON, Fla. -- I spoke to John Holdzkom Monday about his offseason and his plans to prepare for spring training. He will stay here until the start of the season, working out at Pirate City, to avoid distractions.
“At home it's so much different,” said Holdzkom, who lives in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. in the offseason. “You got more distractions and here everyone's on the same page in terms of getting ready for a season, so it's nice to be in that environment.”
Holdzkom assumes nothing about his spot on the team, despite striking out 14 batters and walking only two in nine innings last season while throwing in the high 90s with movement. “If you think you have the spot then you probably won't stay hungry and [get] left behind,” he said.
Asked if his path to the majors helped him stay hungry, he said, “One hundred percent. Now that I've had a little bit of success, I'm actually quite thankful for how things have gone in the past. I've had first-hand experience of getting released multiple times. I know what a bad feeling that is. I know how the business can work. You can't take anything for granted. You never know what they're thinking.”
Holdzkom, you’ll remember, pitched in the minors with the Mets on Reds before spending a season and a half in independent ball. He threw hard, but with no idea where it was going. Moving his fingers closer together helped him harness the cut on his fastball and control it better. The Pirates found him, signed him, sent him to Class AA Altoona and eventually promoted him.
Holdzkom attended a rookie seminar of sorts in Washington, D.C., this offseason. He will throw off a mound in another week or so.
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Charlie Morton plans to throw off a mound for the first time today. He is rehabilitating from Sept. 26 surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip.