Grant Holmes Poised for Breakout Season with Atlanta Braves in 2025
The Atlanta Braves have a history of acquiring former Oakland Athletics players through trades, free agency, and waiver claims. While their current roster is largely set heading into spring training, one ex-A’s prospect has caught the attention of The Athletic’s Jim Bowden as a potential breakout star in 2025—28-year-old right-hander Grant Holmes.
Holmes was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers as the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft. He was later traded to Oakland in 2016 as part of a deal that sent Rich Hill and Josh Reddick to Los Angeles, with the A’s also acquiring Jharel Cotton and Frankie Montas. Despite being considered a promising talent, it took Holmes nearly a decade to reach the majors, finally making his MLB debut with the Braves last season.
In 2023, Holmes appeared in 26 games for Atlanta, including seven starts, finishing with a 2-1 record and a solid 3.56 ERA over 68.1 innings. He also impressed in Triple-A Gwinnett, posting a 2.63 ERA across 41 innings while making three starts and appearing in 18 games, including four as a closer.
One of Holmes’ most memorable moments came on September 30, when he made an emergency start against the New York Mets. He delivered four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, striking out seven, and walking one—helping the Braves clinch their postseason spot.
Bowden believes Holmes is primed for a true breakout season in 2025, citing his versatility as both a starter and reliever. According to Bowden, the Braves see Holmes as a future starting pitcher, and his advanced metrics back up that potential. Last season, Holmes ranked in the 76th percentile in breaking run value, 97th percentile in chase percentage, 92nd percentile in whiff rate, and 90th percentile in walk rate. He averaged 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings while limiting walks to just 2.0 per nine.
While some may argue that Holmes already had a breakout season in 2024, his numbers suggest he’s only getting started. With a secure role on the Braves’ pitching staff and impressive underlying stats, Holmes is in an excellent position to take another big step forward in 2025.
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