Right-hander Colin Holderman has been a key cog in the Cleveland Guardians bullpen this year. He was signed on the cheap back in the offseason and has exceeded all expectations to this point.
Unfortunately, Holderman has been on the injured list since September 4, when he reported some inflammation in his right wrist. His absence left a void in the Guardians’ bullpen, and while the rest of his teammates have done a commendable job filling in for him, his potential return would boost a surging unit even more.
Fortunately for the Guardians, they got some excellent news on that front. Holderman could be back next week if everything goes well, according to team reporter Tim Stebbins.
“Colin Holderman said he’s set to make a rehab appearance with Columbus tomorrow. Assuming all goes well, it could be the first of two outings before rejoining the Guardians next week,” Stebbins said.
Colin Holderman said he’s set to make a rehab appearance with Columbus tomorrow. Assuming all goes well, could be first of two outings before rejoining the Guardians next week.
— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) September 16, 2026
It’s important not to lose sight of the fact that Holderman overcame a rocky start to his season to post a rock-solid 2.73 ERA in 52.2 innings as a Guardian this year. That’s excellent production, backed by a strong 3.16 Fielding Independent Pitching, or FIP.
One of Holderman’s best and most attractive traits is his ability to prevent the long ball. Over the course of the season, he has allowed just 0.17 home runs per nine innings, an elite figure that gives manager Stephen Vogt the confidence to send him out in any situation.
Holderman has walked 20 hitters and struck out 50, proving that he can also get some swings and misses. His 55.6 percent groundball rate ranks in the 95th percentile of all MLB pitchers, meaning that only five percent of the league has a higher rate than him.
All things considered, Holderman is tailor-made to succeed in front of Cleveland’s solid infield defense. If he can return next week, the Guardians’ bullpen would add another late-inning weapon to an already solid unit, further solidifying their case not just to make it into the postseason, but to win the AL Central division.
He has to get through his short rehab stint first, though, but the fact that he’s already healthy enough to pitch is very encouraging.
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