David Holmberg

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #21 prospect in 2015
  Holmberg didn't exactly make a great first impression following his trade to the Reds (for Ryan Hanigan) in December 2013. He showed up to spring training in poor shape and had to work his way into better condition during the season. Shelled in a pair of emergency starts, Holmberg did a much better job during a September callup. He intrigued evaluators when he was dominating hitters in low Class A thanks to a plus changeup, but scouts even then were wary of his lack of fastball velocity. It's a below-average 87-89 mph offering. Holmberg's fringy curveball forces him to rely on his changeup heavily. He walked very few batters in the low minors, but he has seen his walk rate soar as he neared the majors. That's not because he's lost his feel for throwing strikes; his lack of stuff forces him to nibble. Holmberg profiles as a useful depth option for the Reds to stash at Triple-A for spot-starter work.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #7 prospect in 2014
  The 2009 draft has provided much of Arizona's young talent, from their own picks (Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock) to trade pickups such as Pat Corbin and Holmberg, acquired from the White Sox in the 2010 Edwin Jackson deal. Holmberg spent the entire 2013 season with Double-A Mobile, save for his major league debut on Aug. 27 against the Padres. He returned to the BayBears for the Southern League playoffs, losing both starts. Holmberg's scouting report has been consistent since his debut. He's polished, composed, mature and throws strikes. He shows excellent command and feel for pitching, and he's a good bet to reach his ceiling as a No. 4 starter. Holmberg has firmed up his body since starting pro ball and is more athletic than he appears. His fastball generally sits in the 89-91 mph range, touching 93 this year, but at times he pitches with below-average velocity, relying instead on run, sink and command. His changeup is his best pitch, and his curveball, which he throws for strikes at 73-75 mph, is close to an average pitch. His delivery has deception and he uses both sides of the plate well. Holmberg has drawn comparisons with Mark Buehrle, which would put him in line for a nice career if he reaches that ceiling. He's ready for Triple-A Reno and should be ready when an emergency starter is needed at the big league level in 2014.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #6 prospect in 2013
  Getting Daniel Hudson from the White Sox for Edwin Jackson was a nice return for the Diamondbacks in their 2010 deadline deal. As an added bonus, they also received Holmberg, a polished lefthander who has breezed through three levels in the last two seasons. One of the most polished pitchers in the system, Holmberg has the best command among Arizona farmhands. He knows how to pitch and can locate four offerings where he wants. His best pitch is a low-80s changeup with sink that he'll use in any situation. He spots his 88-91 mph fastball well, reaching as high as 93. He also has a good feel for a curveball and slider that can become average pitches. Holmberg is extremely poised on the mound and very sound mechanically. He has firmed up what used to be a doughy body and is now stronger and more athletic. Holmberg held his own but didn't dominate in Double-A, so he could open 2013 back in Mobile. He's on track to reach Triple-A before he turns 22 and could make his big league debut in 2014. While he may not match the upside of other pitching prospects in the system, the odds are pretty good that he'll reach his ceiling of a No. 3 or 4 starter.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #6 prospect in 2012
  The Diamondbacks would have been more than satisfied with their July 2010 trade of Edwin Jackson to the White Sox if they had acquired only Daniel Hudson in return. But they got another potential future starter in Holmberg, who made a smashing fullseason debut in 2011. He improved his velocity while maintaining his command, which managers rated as the best in the low Class A Midwest League. Holmberg stands out for his poise and pitchability. After his fastball topped out around 90 mph in his first two pro seasons, he worked at 88-93 mph in 2011. He can locate his fastball to either side of the plate with good sink. He also firmed up his cutter/slider, though his solid-to-plus changeup remains his plus pitch. Holmberg also has a curveball that has the potential to become an average pitch. He repeats his delivery well, giving him plus command that helps his pitches play up. He had a doughy body in the past, but now he's in better shape and built for durability. Holmberg struggled when he got to the hitter-friendly California League last July, so he'll repeat high Class A to open 2012. He's still on course to reach Double-A before he turns 21 and to eventually become a No. 3 starter.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #22 prospect in 2011
  The White Sox signed Holmberg away from a Florida scholarship in 2009, giving him $514,000 as the fourth of four picks they had before the third round that year. He opened the 2010 season in the Rookie-level Pioneer League before being included in a trade to the Diamondbacks (along with Daniel Hudson) for Edwin Jackson. Holmberg moved from Great Falls to Missoula and pitched his first two games with his new organization against his old Voyagers teammates. Holmberg is a typical strike-throwing lefty with three pitches (fastball, curveball, changeup), and he is also working on a slider that he previously threw in high school. Despite his big body, Holmberg rarely gets his fastball over 90 mph. His curveball has a tendency to get loopy, but later in the season he was becoming more aggressive in trying to finish the pitch. His above-average changeup is a better pitch. Holmberg's mechanics are smooth, and he has a better idea of pitching to the glove side than other southpaws. He's mature for his age and stays within himself on the mound. Holmberg may offer a little bit of projection, but realistically looks like a back-of-the-rotation workhorse. He'll get his first full-season assignment in 2011 with South Bend.
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  Ranked Chicago White Sox #8 prospect in 2010
  Holmberg led the Florida high school ranks in strikeouts as a junior, creating some first-round talk, but a soft body and a fastball that only occasionally hit 90 mph caused him to slip to the second round last June. He had committed to Florida but signed with the White Sox for $514,000 as the fourth of their four picks before the third round. Other young pitchers may have better velocity or nastier breaking pitches, but few are as skilled at pitching. Holmberg has great secondary stuff and an advanced feel for changing speeds and locating pitches. Using a classic overhand delivery, he throws a 12-to-6 curveball with plus break and depth, and his changeup is nearly as good. The quality of his secondary pitches allows him to get swings and misses with a fastball that sits at 86-88 mph. It has late movement, making it tough to square up. He's intelligent and an excellent learner. Scouts have described Holmberg's body as pear-shaped and raised questions about his conditioning, but his legs and core appear strong, like a young David Wells. Radar guns don't love him, but some club officials believe he could gain velocity as his body matures. He moves slowly off the mound and projects as a below-average fielder. Holmberg has some projection but looks like a middle-of-the-rotation workhorse at best. Because he's so young, Chicago will limit his innings in low Class A this season.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked California League #13 prospect in 2012
  Holmberg struggled after being promoted to Visalia in July 2011, but he breezed through the Cal League this year en route to a June promotion to Double-A at age 20. His polish on the mound belies his youth, as he shows a feel for mixing his fastball, slider and changeup. The changeup sticks out as Holmberg's best offering, showing sinking action in the low 80s. He commands the changeup well and has the confidence to use it in any situation, throwing it for strikes or as a chase pitch. It helped him limit Cal League righthanders to a .199 average. Holmberg's fastball sits mainly at 90-91 mph, though it can hit 93 and he can give it cutting action. His slider shows promise but is clearly his third option. He's sound mechanically and methodical on the mound, moving the ball around the strike zone and setting hitters up effectively.
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  Ranked Midwest League #20 prospect in 2011
  When they traded Edwin Jackson to the White Sox in July 2010, the Diamondbacks received not only an immediate No. 2 starter in Daniel Hudson but perhaps a future No. 3 in Holmberg. His command always has been his strong suit--managers tabbed it the best in the MWL--and his stuff took a step forward this season. After topping out around 90 in his first two years in pro ball, Holmberg now has an 88-92 mph fastball he can sink and pinpoint on either side of the plate. His cutter/slider also got quicker and better and his changeup continues to grade out as his best pitch. At his best, he has three solid-to-plus offerings and he also shows flashes of an average curveball.
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  Ranked Pioneer League #15 prospect in 2010
  Holmberg didn't have far to go when the White Sox included him in a July 30 trade for Edwin Jackson. Great Falls was headed to Missoula for the first three games of a home-and-home six-game series, so he just switched teams. He faced his former club in his first two starts for the Osprey and pitched six shutout innings in the second outing. Holmberg has the potential for three average-or-better pitches. He's willing to establish his 87-90 mph fastball inside on righthanders. Though he has a doughy midsection, he repeats a smooth delivery that helps sell his above-average changeup. He must tighten his low-70s curveball in order to add more finish and make it a true swing-and-miss pitch. He also has resumed throwing a slider he used in high school to give him even more variety. He's mature for a teenager, and Cron praised his ability to maintain his composure and stay within himself.
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  Ranked American League #6 prospect in 2009
  The sixth prep lefty taken in the 2009 draft, Holmberg went to the White Sox in the second round. Brought along slowly as a pro, he won his final two starts for Bristol because they were the first two in which he completed five innings. Six-foot-4 and a bit soft-bodied, Holmberg has room to grow stronger and improve upon his present high-80s velocity. He sits at 86-88 mph and touches 90 from a straight overhand delivery, which aids him in getting good plane to the plate. Quick hand speed enables Holmberg to spin quality 12-to-6 curveballs with above-average break and depth. He mixes in a plus changeup and throws an occasional slider. His secondary stuff and precocious feel for locating his pitches and for changing speeds marks him as a future mid-rotation candidate, particularly if he adds a few ticks to his fastball.

• December, 2014 Scouting Report
  Holmberg didn't exactly make a great first impression following his trade to the Reds (for Ryan Hanigan) in December 2013. He showed up to spring training in poor shape and had to work his way into better condition during the season. Shelled in a pair of emergency starts, Holmberg did a much better job during a September callup. He intrigued evaluators when he was dominating hitters in low Class A thanks to a plus changeup, but scouts even then were wary of his lack of fastball velocity. It's a below-average 87-89 mph offering. Holmberg's fringy curveball forces him to rely on his changeup heavily. He walked very few batters in the low minors, but he has seen his walk rate soar as he neared the majors. That's not because he's lost his feel for throwing strikes; his lack of stuff forces him to nibble. Holmberg profiles as a useful depth option for the Reds to stash at Triple-A for spot-starter work.
• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Getting Daniel Hudson from the White Sox for Edwin Jackson was a nice return for the Diamondbacks in their 2010 deadline deal. As an added bonus, they also received Holmberg, a polished lefthander who has breezed through three levels in the last two seasons. Scouting Report: One of the most polished pitchers in the system, Holmberg has the best command among Arizona farmhands. He knows how to pitch and can locate four offerings where he wants. His best pitch is a low-80s changeup with sink that he'll use in any situation. He spots his 88-91 mph fastball well, reaching as high as 93. He also has a good feel for a curveball and slider that can become average pitches. Holmberg is extremely poised on the mound and very sound mechanically. He has firmed up what used to be a doughy body and is now stronger and more athletic. The Future: Holmberg held his own but didn't dominate in Double-A, so he could open 2013 back in Mobile. He's on track to reach Triple-A before he turns 22 and could make his big league debut in 2014. While he may not match the upside of other pitching prospects in the system, the odds are pretty good that he'll reach his ceiling of a No. 3 or 4 starter.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The Diamondbacks would have been more than satisfied with their July 2010 trade of Edwin Jackson to the White Sox if they had acquired only Daniel Hudson in return. But they got another potential future starter in Holmberg, who made a smashing full-season debut in 2011. He improved his velocity while maintaining his command. Scouting Report: Holmberg stands out for his poise and pitchability. After his fastball topped out around 90 mph in his first two pro seasons, he worked at 88-93 mph in 2011. He can locate his fastball to either side of the plate with good sink. He also firmed up his cutter/slider, though his solid-to-plus changeup remains his plus pitch. Holmberg also has a curveball that has the potential to become an average pitch. He repeats his delivery well, giving him plus command that helps his pitches play up. He had a doughy body in the past, but now he's in better shape and built for durability. The Future: Holmberg struggled when he got to the hitter-friendly California League last July, so he'll repeat high Class A to open 2012. He's still on course to reach Double-A before he turns 21 and to eventually become a No. 3 starter.