BRADENTON, Fla. -- Clay Holmes doesn’t know what his role will be this season.
The Pirates have used the right-hander once in relief and once as a starter in the early part of the exhibition season. If Holmes makes the major-league club out of spring training, it will be as a long reliever. If he gets optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, he will almost certainly be used as a starter.
Holmes made his first Grapefruit League start Wednesday and worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings in the Pirates’ 2-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at LECOM Park. However, it was far from smooth as the rookie allowed two hits and two walks to go with two strikeouts.
Holmes, though, is concentrating just as much about what happens before the game than during it.
“I’m working to make sure my pre-game bullpens are becoming more consistent, whether it’s starting or pitching out of the bullpen,” Holmes said. “I’m happy with the way I’ve been attacking the zone and hopefully it continues to get better. I am happy ... the pre-game bullpens are transferring over to the game, though. I feel better prepared than I did last year.”
Last season, in his first taste of the major leagues, Holmes made four starts and seven relief appearances. He struggled, for the most part, in both roles as he went 1-3 with a 6.84 ERA and 2.01 WHIP
Conversely, Holmes has been a starter in 114 of his 122 minor-league games over six seasons since the Pirates drafted him in the ninth round in 2011, from Slocumb (Ala.) High School. Holmes received a $1.2-million bonus to give up his commitment to Auburn.
When I asked, Holmes said he had no preference between starting or reliever at this point of his career.
“I’ve been in the organization since 2011 and I’ve put a lot of time, effort and energy in helping Pittsburgh win,” Holmes said. “I’m at the point to where I just want to do whatever is needed to help the team win.”
• Luis Escobar followed Holmes and gave up a run in the 1 2/3 innings. Kyle Crick, in his first exhibition outing, allowed an RBI single to Kendrys Morales in the fifth inning that snapped a 1-1 tie and sent the Pirates to their second loss in five games this spring.
Aaron Slegers (two innings), Francisco Liriano (one) and Doyvadas Neverauskas (one) and Nick Burdi (one) all had scoreless outings.
• Jason Martin’s home run with one out in the first inning off starter Matt Shoemaker accounted for the Pirates’ lone run. It was the rookie outfielder’s second of the spring.
Clint Hurdle said he is more interested in seeing if Martin can handle center field defensively.
“We’re trying to find out if it is a real option for him,” Hurdle said. “He has real speed and we’re looking at route efficiency, the accuracy of the throws.”
Center field prospect Lolo Sanchez went 2-for-2 and rookie first baseman Will Craig drew walks in each of his two plate appearances. Jose Osuna and non-roster catcher Christian Kelley each struck out in both of their trips to the plate.
• Non-roster catcher Steven Baron said he felt fine Wednesday a day after a spectacular catch against the Twins in a game at Fort Myers, Fla.
“No bumps or bruises,” he said with a smile.
Baron tumbled down the steps and into the Twins’ dugout on the third-base side at Hammond Stadium to catch a foul popup. Somehow, he was able to hold onto the ball. Hurdle said it was the best catch he has ever seen made by a catcher.
“I felt like I had a chance on it,” Baron said. “I thought it was in play and I thought I’d be OK to catch it. I thought I had room, maybe to catch it then step into the dugout.
“Thankfully, I kind of let myself fall and didn’t resist it, and (the Twins players’) helped catch me and stopped my momentum.”
Baron has the reputation as a defensive catcher, one that is well-deserved considering he has thrown out 43 percent of runners attempting to steal in 10 minor-league seasons. Ironically, Baron said popups were his weak point when he first came into pro ball after being drafted by the Mariners in the supplemental first round in 2009.
• Gregory Polanco extended his throwing program to 115 feet prior to Wednesday’s game. There remains no timetable for his return, but it seems certain he will not be on the opening-day roster, despite reports to the contrary.
Chad Kuhl and Edgar Santana are now playing catch at 75 feet as they continue to rehab from Tommy John surgery. Both are expected to miss the season.
• Right-hander Rookie Davis, who is competing for one open spot in the rotation, will make his Grapefruit League debut Friday in one of the Pirates’ split-squad games. The Pirates play the Blue Jays in Dunedin and the Phillies in Clearwater that day.
Davis got a late start to spring training as he signed a minor-league contract Feb. 18, a week after pitchers and catchers reported to camp. Davis pitched a two-inning simulated game Tuesday.
“I felt really good, really strong,” Davis told me.
• The Pirates visit the Yankees at 1:05 p.m. tomorrow in Tampa, Fla.
Steven Brault is scheduled to start for the Pirates after pitching two scoreless innings against the Phillies in his first spring start. Following Brault will be Brandon Waddell, Alex McRae, Elvis Escobar and Geoff Hartlieb.
Former Pirates left-hander J.A. Happ will start for the Yankees.