Grant Holmes's Biography
Harrison Grant Holmes is an accomplished professional baseball pitcher in the United States. Born on March 22, 1996, he has gained notable accolades and fame for his consistent and influential on-field performance. Holmes currently stands as an esteemed pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, a prominent team in Major League Baseball (MLB). His passage into the MLB set sail with his selection by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft.
Holmes’ journey began at Conway High School located in Conway, South Carolina, where he began making a name for himself in the world of baseball. As his high school years wound down, the promising athlete was recognized as a leading prospect for the 2014 Major League Baseball draft. By this point, he was prepared to broaden his horizon; hence, Holmes accepted an offer from the renowned University of Florida.
In the 2014 draft, Holmes gained significant attention from the Los Angeles Dodgers who carefully selected him as the 22nd pick in the first round. On June 17, 2014, Holmes officially joined the Dodgers’ team with a generous signing bonus of $2.5 million. His early professional tenure brought him to the Arizona League Dodgers to kickstart his professional career. Despite mulish competition, Holmes demonstrated his noteworthy talent with a 1–2 record and a 3.00 ERA in seven consecutive games.
Following his short-lived tenure at Arizona, Holmes was promoted to the Ogden Raptors, where he made an equally impressive mark. However, since the 2015 season approached faster than anticipated, Holmes shifted gears and found himself playing for the Great Lakes Loons. His remarkable contribution led him to be selected for the mid-season All-Star team, rounding off the season with a 6–4 record and a commendable 3.14 ERA across numerous starts.
The following year in 2016 commenced with Holmes joining the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. His career took a major turn on August 1, as he, along with Jharel Cotton and Frankie Montas, were traded to the Oakland Athletics. Despite this wind of change, Holmes maintained his consistent performance, which saw him posting an 11–7 record and 4.63 ERA between twenty-six games. Holmes’ engagement continued with the Midland RockHounds in 2017, where he pitched to an 11–12 record and 4.49 ERA, while racking up 150 strikeouts in 148 1⁄3 innings.
Recognizing his talent, the Athletics added Holmes to their coveted 40-man roster in 2018 to shield him from the Rule 5 draft. Despite experiencing shoulder discomfort that kept him away from the pitch for over a month in 2019, he managed to make an effective comeback, splitting his time between Midland and the Las Vegas Aviators.
The global outbreak of COVID-19 led to the suspension of the 2020 minor league season, restricting Holmes from demonstrating his skills on the pitch. In 2021, he represented Triple-A Las Vegas, acquitting himself respectfully although the year was challenging. The subsequent year, Holmes was removed from the Athletics’ 40-man roster and released him in July.
Shortly after his exit from the Athletics, Holmes found a new baseball home with the Atlanta Braves in August 2022. Moving forward in the Braves’ organization, he made solid appearances with the rookie-level Florida Complex League Braves and High-A Rome Braves that year. Next season at Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers, Holmes recorded an impressive 7-3 record, with a 3.54 ERA across 61.0 innings in fifty games.
After briefly embracing free agency at the close of the 2023 season, Holmes once again teamed up with the Braves. His hard work and determination paid off in 2024 when he was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. His MLB debut was a memorable one – he allowed no runs in a relief role against the Tampa Bay Rays, accumulating three scoreless innings and two striking strikeouts.
Holmes made his first career start later that year against the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite the high-pressure situation, he performed exceptionally, conceding only one run and recording eight strikeouts in a no-decision game.
Off the pitch, Holmes maintains a strong connection with his family. His brother, Colby, is also associated with the baseball fraternity, having played at the University of South Carolina and Atlanta Braves organization. Completing his personal life is his wife, Sami, whom he married in February 2020. Harrison Grant Holmes’ journey from a passionate high-school player to an esteemed MLB professional showcases his resilience, dedication, and love for the game. As his career continues, the baseball world anticipates his continued success.
