Independent Baseball Insider by Bob Wirz, Vol. 12, No. 25, August 28, 2014
Power-pitching John Holdzkom (pictured), who was in the American Association (Amarillo, TX) earlier this season but seems on a fast track, is one long shot some are pushing for a September audition with Pittsburgh.
The 6-foot-9 right-hander, at a prime age of 26, continues to lower his earned run average at Indianapolis, where it is at 2.75 after 17 outings, and he is holding Triple-A hitters to a .194 average. The California native has struck out 25 in 19.2 innings while allowing only 14 hits.
“(Holdzkom) is knocking on the door,” Indianapolis Manager Dean Treanor told TribLive.com after his last outing. “He’s running 97 (MPH) out there and with his arm slide and angle, that’s tough to hit.”
(Fans not yet getting the complete Independent Baseball Insider column, which will be published 36 times in 2014, may do so for as little as $6.95 at www.WirzandAssociates.com. Bob Wirz provides supplemental stories about Independent Baseball on his blog, www.IndyBaseballChatter.com. The author has 16 years of major league baseball experience with Kansas City and as chief spokesman for two Commissioners, and lives in Stratford, CT.)
