Derek Holland

Pitching style

Holland has the ability to throw a variety of pitches to right-handed hitters and left-handed hitters at different speeds. His primary pitch is a four-seam fastball averaging 94-95 mph. To lefties, he throws the four-seamer, a two-seamer, and a slider (82-85). To righties, he throws a balance of the aforementioned pitches as well as a changeup in the mid 80s and a curveball in the mid-high 70s. Holland relies heavily on his slider with two strikes to both right-handed and left-handed hitters.

Texas Rangers

Holland was drafted in the 25th round in 2006 out of Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Alabama, a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association. He was the number two rated prospect in the Rangers organization according to Baseball America, behind Neftalí Feliz, for 2009.

2009

On April 22, 2009, Holland made his major league debut; pitching 2⅓ innings, allowing 3 hits, no runs, no walks, and striking out 2. On August 9, he pitched his first complete game, a 7–0 shutout against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Anaheim. For the 2009 season, Holland finished the season 8-13 with a 6.12 ERA in 33 games (21 starts).

2010

Holland spent the majority of 2010 in Triple-A Oklahoma City, and was called up only due to injuries to other starters. After winning his first two decisions, he lost his next three. He ended the regular season with a 3–4 record, and 4.08 ERA.

Holland allowed 3 runs in 4.2 innings in the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays. He pitched 5.2 innings in the ALCS with no earned runs, and was crucial in Game 4, earning the victory against the defending champion New York Yankees. He entered the game in the fourth inning with one out and the bases loaded, and got his team out of a serious jam while also eating away innings to protect his bullpen.

Holland did not have the same success in the World Series against the San Francisco Giants. In game 2, Holland entered with one on and one out in the bottom of the 8th inning, with the Rangers trailing 2-0. Holland walked all three batters he faced without recording an out, and he forced in the runner he inherited via his final walk. Holland's wildness opened the door for what turned into a huge inning for the eventual champion Giants, as all three of the batters he walked came around to score. The Rangers lost the game 9-0. Holland pitched a scoreless relief inning in a game four 4-0 loss, but he and the Rangers lost the series 4-1.

2011

Holland started the 2011 season as a starter for the Rangers, and despite a 4.96 ERA, won four of his five starts in April and May. He lowered his ERA to 4.14 in June, mainly by virtue of his first shutout of the season. He started off July with inconsistency, failing to make it out of the first inning against the Marlins. Over the next five starts, he responded by throwing three more shutouts.

In 2011, he was 16–5 with a 3.95 ERA. He led the AL in shutouts (4; tied for fifth-most in Rangers history), was 3rd in win-loss percentage (.762; the fifth-best in Rangers history), and was 4th in wins.

On October 23, Holland was the winning pitcher in Game 4 of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, giving up no runs on two hits, two walks and striking out seven. He was pulled from the game after pitching  8 ¹⁄₃ innings. The Rangers lost the World Series after 7 games.

2012

He signed a contract extension on March 20, 2012 that was worth $28.5 million over five years with a two-year club option with Texas Rangers. Holland finished the regular season with a win-loss record of 12-7 with an ERA of 4.67 as he gave up 32 home runs, fifth highest in Major League Baseball.

2013

In 2013, Holland went 10-9 with a 3.42 ERA in 33 starts.

2014

On January 7, 2014, Holland suffered a knee injury after a fall while playing with his dog at home. MRI testing revealed torn cartilage in his left knee. Holland underwent arthroscopic microfracture surgery to repair the cartilage damage on January 10, 2014. He was placed on the 60-day disabled list and sidelined until the All-Star break.

2015

Holland strained his subscapularis muscle during the Rangers' first home game of the 2015 season, and was placed on the 60-day disabled list on April 10. Holland returned on August 19, 2015 to start against the Seattle Mariners. He went 6.1 innings pitched with 6 strikeouts and 2 earned runs as he earned his first win of the season in a 7-2 Rangers' win.

2016

On November 8, 2016, the Texas Rangers announced they would decline a 2017 club option on Holland, making him a free agent. Holland was due to receive $11 million in pay in 2017, and received a $1.5 million buyout.

Chicago White Sox

On December 14, 2016, Holland signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Chicago White Sox Holland began the season with a 2.37 ERA in 10 starts, but afterwards, his performance regressed immensely. He was granted an unconditional release on September 5, 2017, after a 7–14 record, 6.20 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP through 26 starts and 3 relief appearances with the White Sox.

60 feet 6 Foundation

In 2014, Holland launched the 60 Feet 6 Foundation to help raise awareness of and fund research for leukemia, particularly the pediatric forms. Through the charity, he raises funds to help families battling the disease.