Imago
May 30, 2025, Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA: In Minor League Baseball action, the Somerset Patriots hosted the Akron RubberDucks on Friday, May 30, 2025. Somerset was defeated 8-7 in the 3 hour and 47 minute showdown. Pictured is Yankees top prospect Spencer Jones Bridgewater USA – ZUMAs325 20250530_zsp_s325_017 Copyright: xJessxStilesx
Imago
May 30, 2025, Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA: In Minor League Baseball action, the Somerset Patriots hosted the Akron RubberDucks on Friday, May 30, 2025. Somerset was defeated 8-7 in the 3 hour and 47 minute showdown. Pictured is Yankees top prospect Spencer Jones Bridgewater USA – ZUMAs325 20250530_zsp_s325_017 Copyright: xJessxStilesx
Clay Holmes completely changed his career after leaving the Yankees. The Mets took a chance on the veteran reliever, and it worked out. He has become an anchor of the franchise’s rotation, having a brilliant 1.86 ERA by mid-May. However, that stunning season, in a split second, was brought to a halt.
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During the opening game of the Subway Series, a 111 mph comebacker off Yankees rookie Spencer Jones fractured his right fibula. Jones ripped a line drive that struck Holmes in the right leg. After Jones was updated about how bad the injury was, he immediately apologized.
“Yes, so first I’ve heard of that. I’m sorry, he’s a friend of mine.” Jones told reporters. “We work out in Nashville together, so that’s tough to hear,” Jones said. “I hit the ball, and then I saw it come back towards me. It sounded loud, and I was just running to first base.”
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The hit was not intentional. After the ball bounced off Holmes, Jones safely reached first base. Meanwhile, the Mets catcher and manager, Carlos Mendoza, went to check on Holmes.
Incredibly, just like Charlie Morton did during the 2021 World Series, when Morton broke his leg on a comebacker, refused to leave the game, pitched to three batters, and struck out Jose Altuve on a broken leg, Homes looked fine. He waved off the trainers and finished the fourth inning. He even came out to start the fifth. Holmes exited the game after throwing 95 pitches. Only after an X-ray was done post-game was the fracture revealed, and it will leave him out of action for a long time.
Spencer Jones found out his liner fractured Clay Holmes’ fibula during his postgame media availability.
They’re friends that worked out in Nashville together this offseason. pic.twitter.com/Axf1zuiZEv
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 16, 2026
“He’s going to be down for a long time,” Mendoza said to the media. “It’s a huge blow. He’s one of the most consistent guys that we had in that rotation.”
Before Friday, Holmes had been brilliant. Last month, the Mets’ 33-year-old starter had the best moment against the Nationals. He threw 6 scoreless innings, allowing just 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 6 batters to secure an 8-0 shutout victory. Against the Giants, he threw 7.0 scoreless innings, giving up only 3 hits and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts.
Friday was a dud, though, as he allowed 4 runs in his 4.1 innings, raising his ERA to 2.39. Now that Holmes will be out for a long time, the Mets have surely lost a reliable performer.
With Freddy Peralta standing with a 3.10 ERA and Nolan McLean with a 2.92 ERA, the rotation would be severely affected due to Holmes’ absence.
“It’s really sad,” Juan Soto said. “It’s part of the game. We’re gonna support him. It just sucks. .. We have to keep our heads up and keep moving forward. We’re gonna miss Clay.”
Stars like Luis Robert Jr., Francisco Lindor, and Kodai Senga are already out. Now losing one of their most consistent performers this year is a huge blow for the team. The Mets are currently last in the NL East with an 18-26 record and need to race against time to field an alternative in the rotation.
The Mets’ supply chain will be tested
The biggest question for the Mets is who will fill Clay Holmes’ shoes. Sean Manaea is the obvious first choice, given his experience.
While Manaea is currently pitching out of the bullpen, his struggles could keep him from taking Holmes’ place. He has a rough 6.56 ERA over nine games and 23 1/3 innings, even though he has racked up 26 strikeouts. His fastball velocity is also down. His four-seam fastball has averaged around 88 mph, well below his peak of over 92 mph during the 2024 campaign.
If the Mets want to give him another chance, Manaea could be in.
The next option could come from the Mets’ minors. Jonah Tong, the Mets’ current high-ceiling prospect, dominated last year with a 1.43 ERA and 179 strikeouts in AA and AAA. However, his MLB debut last year was a disaster, as he posted a 7.71 ERA over five starts after being called up in August. He is currently struggling with a 5.68 ERA in the minors this year.
Jack Wenninger is another name from the Mets’ minors who could be promoted. This year, he has a 1.08 ERA and 1.11 WHIP so far. Hence, he could be another option. Let’s now see if the Mets’ supply chain could offer a better alternative this time.
Written by
Edited by
Arunaditya Aima