That the Padres had such success transitioning Seth Lugo from reliever to starter in 2023 was a motivator in believing that Michael King could make the same transition.

And now King believes his former Yankee teammate Clay Holmes is going to also make this move successfully because like him and Lugo, the hunger to start never left Holmes. 

King watched Holmes’ first start on TV and was blown away by how well-developed Holmes’ new changeup was already. 

“He’s the type who can take all the new-school teaching and add it to his arsenal. The big thing is going to be as a reliever he could throw his sinker 97-100 (mph) and it is unhittable. Now, as a starter, you have to realize you can throw it at 94. You don’t need 98. You can save that for the fifth or sixth inning when you really need it.”