Greg Holland

Early career

Prior to being drafted by the Royals in the 10th round of the 2007 amateur draft, the 5'10", 180 pound Holland attended McDowell High School in Marion, North Carolina and then Western Carolina University. While at Western Carolina University, he went 10-12 with a 4.34 ERA from 2005-2007. He was signed by scout Steve Connelly.

Kansas City Royals

Holland began his professional career in 2007, making 22 relief appearances for the Idaho Falls Chukars and going 6-1 with a 3.48 ERA, striking out 37 batters in 33 ²⁄₃ innings. In 2008, he pitched for the Wilmington Blue Rocks, going 4-5 with a 3.42 ERA in 32 games (seven starts), fanning 96 batters in 84 ¹⁄₃ innings. He split 2009 between the Northwest Arkansas Naturals and Omaha Royals, going a combined 4-3 with a 3.81 ERA in 35 relief appearances.

2010 season

Holland began the 2010 season with the Omaha Royals, going 3-3 with a 3.81 ERA in 36 relief appearances for them overall. He was promoted to the majors on July 29, 2010 and made 15 relief appearances for the Kansas City Royals, going 0-1 with 23 strikeouts and a 6.75 ERA in 18 ²⁄₃ innings.

2011 season

Holland started out 2011 in Omaha again, but was called up again in May, earning his first major league win in a May 19, 2011 win over the Texas Rangers. He pitched in 46 games for the big league club that season, going 5-1 with a 1.80 ERA. He allowed only 37 hits and struck out 74 batters in 60 innings. At the minor league level, he was 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 13 relief appearances that season.

2012 season

Holland had a breakout season in 2012, going 7-4 with 16 saves, 91 strikeouts and a 2.96 ERA in 67 relief appearances. He assumed closing duties when Jonathan Broxton, who began the season as the team's closer, was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in July 31. He also pitched in two games at the minor league level that year.

2013 season

In 2013 Holland sustained his best season in the majors. He became the Royals full-time closer and converted 47 of 50 save Opportunities. On September 26, 2013, Holland set the Royals single season saves record with his 46th save in a 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox. He surpassed Dan Quisenberry and Jeff Montgomery who both had 45 save seasons.

2014 season

Holland had his second straight All-Star year in 2014, converting 46 of 48 save opportunities while compiling a 1.44 ERA. He appeared in eight games in the postseason leading up to the Royals World Series appearance, posting a 1.13 ERA over 8 innings and earning 6 saves. He tied a playoff series record by saving 4 games in the ALCS (matching Dennis Eckersley's record in the 1988 ALCS), the first since John Wetteland in the 1996 World Series. On October 22 Holland earned the inaugural Mariano Rivera Award for his outstanding performance as a closer. Two days later in Game 3 of the World Series he saved his record-tying 7th game of the postseason, sharing the record with Wetteland, Robb Nen, Troy Percival, Brad Lidge and Koji Uehara.

2015 season

After serving the bulk of the 2015 season as the Royals' closer, compiling 32 saves with a 3.83 ERA, doctors discovered in late September that Holland had a "significant tear" in his right ulnar collateral ligament. On September 22, the Royals announced that Holland's season was over, and that he would likely require Tommy John surgery. On September 29, the team confirmed that Holland was scheduled to undergo the surgery on October 2, and that he would likely miss most, if not all, of the 2016 season. With the Royals finishing the season 95-67, the team eventually went on to win the 2015 World Series against the New York Mets, their first title in 30 years.

2016 season

Holland missed the entire 2016 season as he continued to recover from Tommy John surgery. After the season, Holland was released, making him a free agent for the first time of his career.

2017 season

On January 26, 2017, Holland signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Rockies. On April 3, he earned his first save since September 17, 2015, defeating the Milwaukee Brewers on his Rockies debut and Opening Day. Holland won the National League Reliever of the Month Award for April.

On Mother's Day, Holland broke the Rockies franchise record of converting 16 consecutive saves to start a season, formerly held by José Jiménez, which he had set in 2002. Holland won his second consecutive NL Reliever of the Month Award for the month of May, going for 20-for-20 in save opportunities, a 1.31 ERA and 0.82 WHIP through May.

Pitching repertoire

With an overhand delivery, Holland throws a four-seam fastball that regularly in 95-96 mph, topping out at 100 mph. He pairs his fastball with a slider around 86 mph, and a rare splitter around 85-89 mph.

Personal

He is the son of Scott and Kim Holland. He has a brother, Chase Holland and a sister, Ashley Holland Berryhill. He is married to Lacey. Their first child was born on October 1, 2014. Their second child was born on July 27, 2017.