HANCEVILLE --Texas Rangers rookie Derek Holland gets asked a popular question, whether he’s on the road or playing at home in Arlington, Texas.
“People always ask me where is Wallace State?” said Holland on Monday as he was traveling to Ohio to spend time with his family during the All-Star break. “I tell them it’s a place they’re missing out on. It’s a place I learned a lot at and helped make me the person and pitcher I am today.
“I tell them Wallace State {Hanceville} is a great place, a place where I had a lot of fun and somewhere they can only fully appreciate if they experience it themselves.”
The former Wallace State Community College ace has cracked the big leagues this season after spending less than three seasons in the minor leagues with the Rangers. Holland was summoned to the Rangers on April 17 and has become a fixture with the pitching staff in both the starting rotation and out of the bullpen.
Holland maintains a 3-5 record at the break and has 46 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound left-hander has been juggled between the starting rotation and bullpen since his promotion. Holland made his first major league start on May 22 against the Houston Astros, pitching 5 2/3 innings and allowing three runs in a no-decision. The Rangers prevailed in the game, 6-5.
After collecting his first career win on May 12 against the Seattle Mariners, Holland notched his first victory as a starter on July 4 against the Tampa Bay Rays as he went six effective innings in a 12-4 triumph.
Holland’s final three appearances of the first half were in relief and he’s slated to pitch out the bullpen to begin the second half.
“It’s tough at times to switch back and forth (between the rotation and bullpen), but at the same time I’ve just got to go out there and pitch to the best of my abilities. It’s nice to know the Rangers have confidence in me in either role. That’s a big plus,” Holland said. “I’m just going out there and battling to help the team win games. The bottom line is you’ve got to stay focused no matter the role.”
Holland has established himself as one of the top prospects in the Rangers rich farm system after a superb career at Wallace State from 2006-07.
As a freshman in 2006, Holland went 8-2 with a 2.69 ERA and struck out 80 batters in 77 innings. As a sophomore, he followed it up with a 9-2 mark with a 1.82 ERA in 13 starts. He recorded 84 strikeouts and issued only 11 walks in 74.1 innings.
Holland, a Newark, Ohio native, was selected by the Rangers in the 25th-round of the 2006 draft. At the time, Holland had the draft-and-follow option at his disposal and had the choice to accept the Rangers offer or transfer to Arizona State before the following draft in 2007.
Holland elected to join the Rangers system following his 2007 season at Wallace State-Hanceville and quickly made his mark in the minor leagues. He was named the team’s Nolan Ryan Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season after going 13-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 26 starts at three different professional levels.
Wallace State baseball coach Randy Putman knew Holland had tremendous potential to reach the major leagues after his career with the Lions concluded.
“Derek Holland is the best big-game pitcher I’ve ever had. If we needed a big win, there was no doubt he was going to be on the mound,” Putman said earlier this year. “He’s always been a great prospect, and I knew he was going to be a big-league pitcher.
“Derek is going to win a lot of games in the big leagues. It doesn’t matter if it’s coming out of the bullpen or when he gets that chance to start. He has four pitches that he can throw for strikes. He’s just an outstanding pitcher.”
Holland has as much praise for Putman, Wallace State pitching coach Chuck Davis and the Lions’ baseball program for molding him into the pitcher he has become.
“That’s where it all started. Coach Putman helped put a good head on my shoulders and helped establish the confidence, mental toughness and hard work I needed to be a major league pitcher,” Holland said. “Coach Putman and coach Davis were the ones that pushed me to achieve everything I have so far. I credit both of them big time.”
Holland joins former outfielder Terry Jones as the two major league players Putman has coached at Wallace State. Additionally, Putman has produced approximately 27 professional players at Wallace State, including five currently in the minor leagues. Before joining Wallace State in 1990, Putman also coached Jay Bell and Travis Fryman at Tate High School in Pensacola, Fla.
Holland’s biggest major league thrill thus far was starting at Boston’s Fenway Park on June 6.
“There are absolutely no words to describe the atmosphere there. Nothing I could say would do it justice,” he said. “The fans are so dedicated. It’s an unbelievable place.”
The Rangers (48-39) open their unofficial second half of the season Friday by hosting the Minnesota Twins in a three-game homestand.
Holland and the Rangers sit 1.5 games behind the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the American League West lead and 2.5 behind the wild-card leading New York Yankees.
As the summer heats up, Holland hopes the pennant race for the Rangers will provide the best excitement yet.
“It should be a lot of fun. I think we’ll be right there,” Holland said. “The Rangers fans have been amazing all season. They do care about their baseball and players. It’s good to have fans like that on your side.”
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit wallacestate.edu.
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Russell Moore
Staff Writer
Wallace State Community College
P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077
1-866-350-9722 Direct line: 256-352-8443
256-352-8314 fax
Visit us online at www.wallacestate.edu
ACCC STATS
Cassie Daniels