Pirates reliever Colin Holderman off to a tough start in 2024

It has been stated thousands of times, the bullpen was the clear strength of the 2024 Pirates team. At times it has very much looked as so, but at other times not so much. The Pirates have had to shake up the bullpen a good bit already this season.

This includes coming right out of Spring Training. The team sent down lefty Jose Hernandez and placed Carmen Mlodzinski and Colin Holderman on the Injury List to start the season. All three of those pitchers were important parts of the team's bullpen in 2023.

Holderman was on the Injury List because of a virus that went through Pirates camp. Other players on the team got it, but Holderman's body did not respond well to it apparently. In the end, he lost significant weight and preseason innings to get himself built up. So to start the year it was clear that he would not be ready.

The Pirates added Holderman back to the roster on April 11th, before the series with the Phillies.

The team sent down reliever Ryder Ryan as the corresponding move. Ryan looks to be a decent depth arm and will be stashed at Triple-A until needed.

Holderman on the other hand had a rude welcome to the 2024 season. He made his first appearance against the Phillies on Thursday. After Jared Jones's' start in which he gave up three earned runs, Holderman was brought in.

The first hitter he faced with Nick Castellanos who hit a flyball to right center field. The ball was heading between Michael A. Taylor and Edward Olivares. Neither really took firm command of it and it turned into an error against Olivares. Meanwhile, Holderman who finally gets on the mound, has a base runner that should not be on.

Naturally, the next batter Bryson Stott hit a home run and made the Pirates pay for the error. It is hard to blame Holderman for the loss, as the offense did nothing. However, the game was definitely over after this home run. Hopefully, this is not something that will linger with him.