We continue the countdown with another Mississippi State Bulldog at number 53, RHP Jonathan Holder. Holder enters his junior season after a spectacular run with the Diamond Dawgs last season.
In his 34 appearances on the mound in 2013, the All-American closer posted a 2-0 record, with a 1.65 ERA and the third-best record of saves in the NCAA at 21. Along with being one of the best in the NCAA in saves, the Gulfport, Miss. native lead the squad in strikeouts at 90 in 54.2 IP. During the summer, Holder spent his time pitching for Wareham in the CCBL, posting a 5.58 ERA in 9.8 IP with 12 strikeouts.
Holder’s freshman season was another one for Mississippi State fans to smile about. The consensus All-American in 2012 had the seventh-best record for saves in the SEC at 9, with a 2-1 record in 24 appearances. He also posted a 0.32 ERA with 30 strikeouts and only one earned run in 28.1 IP; this helped set up a new Mississippi State record of consecutive scoreless innings pitched at 27.1. In summer play, Holder was in Wareham for the first time, posting a 3-1 record with 2 saves and a 1.99 ERA in 22.2. IP.
The success that Holder has had didn’t start when he took to Dudy Noble Field in Starkville. He was a three-year starter at Gulfport High School and earned first-team Mississippi Association of Coaches All-State in 2011 after posting a 9-1 record, with 87 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.36 in 61 IP.
Check out Mississippi State’s digital media reporter Bob Carskadon‘s interview with Holder after the conclusion of the Diamond Dawgs’ fall scrimmages below.
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