This is the shortened version. I could write for a while on this guy,
but for sake of time I will keep these prospect profiles short. I will
continue to add on to the during the season however. Now onto Mr.
Holland:

If you have paid any attention in the past 2 years to
the Rangers Farm System, you have heard this name plenty. Holland is a
25th round draft pick out of Wallace State Community College in Alabama
who had a High 80s-Low 90s fastball with decent secondary pitches.
Pretty uninspiring. What happened next is anyones guess. Holland has
cranked his fastball up to a sizzling 98+ MPH, consistently around 96.

A
guy who was drafted as a C prospect at best is now a legitimate A-
prospect the lists I have seen. He was ranked #1 in the Rangers farm
system by Jamey Newberg (the Dalai Lama of the Rangers farm system),
given an A- by John Sickels over at Minor League Ball and named the #2
prospect (behind fireballing 20 year old Neftali Feliz) in the #1 Minor
League System by Baseball America.

His velocity is a nice thing
to have, but what stands out with Holland is his control. In 2007,
during his rookie season, he threw 67 innings with 83 K’s and 21 BB’s,
cruising to a 3.22 ERA. In 2008, Holland started the season out with
the Clinton Lumberkings in the Midwest League going 7-0 with a 2.40 ERA
in 17 starts. He threw 94 innings for the Lumberkings, amassing 91
strikeouts to a paltry 29 walks. He was then promoted to Bakersfield
(California League) where he went 3-1 with a 3.19 ERA and a 37/5 K/BB
ration (wow…). He ended the season with the Frisco Rough Riders (AA)
going 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA a 22/4 K/BB ratio over a 20 inning span
(including an 8 strikeout, 0 run playoff win).

Totals for 2008:
13-1, 2.36 ERA, 150/38 K/BB, 145 innings, 107 hits, and 3 homeruns. Let
that last number sit a little longer, 3 HOMERUNS? For a ballpark like
the one we have, we rely on our pitchers to keep the ball on the
ground. Holland is becoming more and more respected for his ability to
get the ground ball out. This is going to be a huge plus for the young
lefthander when he makes it to the bigs. He represents the type of
pitcher the Rangers have been trying to build since I can remember. A
hard throwing competitor that could potentially have a 4:1 K/BB ratio,
who keeps the ball in the park. Sounds like Nolan Ryan looking into a
mirror if you ask me.

The other great thing about Holland is he
is a lefty. This team has been in dire need of a power lefty for a long
time, hopefully they have found it in Holland.

Holland is not
slated to break camp, but I could see him being on the Major League
roster as soon as May 30th. If he starts out in Frisco or OKC and can
put up the type of numbers he has the past 2 season, I think it is very
feasible that we see him in late May or early June at the ballpark.