Mike Holtz #65

MICHAEL JAMES HOLTZ...Mike and his wife Kristie have 2 children, son Dane (7/20/99) and daughter Averie (5/4/02)...majored in business management at Clemson University, where he was a member of the 1991, 1992 and 1994 Atlantic Coast Conference championship baseball teams...the '91 team participated in the College World Series...underwent "Tommy John" surgery in the middle of his sophomore season...was a 1990 graduate of Central Cambria High School in Ebensburg, PA...named All-Conference in his junior season as a pitcher/outfielder, and tossed 2 no-hitters as a senior in 1990.

2005

After 11 seasons in American pro ball, signed to play for the Yokohama Bay Stars of Japan's Central League on January 18 and went 0-1 with a 4.38 ERA in 44 relief appearances...struck out 22 in 24.2 innings, an average of 8.0 strikeouts per 9 innings.

2004

Signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays January 13 and began the season with the Triple-A Durham Bulls, going 1-2 with a 3.80 ERA in 17 games before having his season cut short due to bone spurs in his left elbow, which required surgery...did not pitch again after being placed on the D.L. June 11...struck out 27 batters in 23.2 innings and limited opposing hitters to a .198 batting average...allowed just 2 runs in his first 11 games of the season (14.2 IP), including an 8.1-inning scoreless streak spanning 7 outings from April 21-May 14.

2003

Spent the season with Triple-A Nashville after signing a minor league contract with the Pirates January 24...ranked 3rd on the team with 45 appearances to help lead the Sound to their first playoff appearance since 1994...did not allow a run in 33 of his 45 outings, with 14 of his 24 earned runs coming in 4 appearances...logged a 2.27 ERA (10 ER/39.2 IP) in his other 41 games...enjoyed success at the start and end of the season, allowing just 2 runs in his first 9 games (7.0 IP) and 2 runs in his final 9 games (11.2 IP) of the year...was on the D.L. from June 26-July 27 with bone chips in his left elbow.

2002

Spent the majority of the season in the Padres organization after being designated for assignment by the Oakland Athletics May 25 and subsequently released June 3...signed a minor league contract with the Padres June 15 and reported to Triple-A Portland...after 7 Triple-A appearances, earned a July 1 promotion San Diego, where he stayed for the remainder of the season...did not allow an earned run in his first 8 games with the Padres (4.2 IP)...also did not surrender an earned run in 11 consecutive appearances from August 6-September 1 (6.1 IP)...earned his first National League win with 0.2 scoreless innings July 12 vs. St. Louis.

2001

In his 8th season in the Angels organization, including his 4th consecutive season on the Opening Day roster, tied with Al Levine for the team lead with 63 relief appearances...with 38 strikeouts in 37.0 innings, averaged 9.24 K's per 9 innings...worked less than 1.0 inning in 42 of his 63 appearances...stranded 37 of his 50 inherited runners and retired 39 of 63 first batters faced...made his 300th career appearance October 5 vs. Oakland...notched his lone win of the season with a scoreless 10th inning September 6 vs. Kansas City...was placed on the D.L. May 17 (retroactive to May 11) with an inflamed left elbow...made 2 rehab appearances with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and was activated from the D.L. May 30.

2000

Made 61 appearances for the Angels following 6 outings at Triple-A Edmonton to begin the season...led Angels relievers by stranding 49 of his 59 inherited runners (83 percent)...matched his career high with 40 strikeouts, averaging just under one strikeout per inning pitched (40 K's in 41.0 IP)...posted a 9.1-inning scoreless streak spanning 13 outings from June 29-July 24...made his 200th career appearance June 29 at Seattle.

1999

Split the season between Anaheim and Triple-A Edmonton, making 3 seperate stints with the big league club...enjoyed far better success in the minors, going 2-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 20 games compared to a 2-3 record and 8.06 ERA in 28 games at the major league level...limited Triple-A foes to a .202 batting average...made 10 appearances with Anaheim to begin the season before being optioned to Edmonton May 8...was recalled June 27 and made 2 appearances for the Angels before being sent back to Edmonton July 6...recalled again July 23 and went on to appear in 16 games for the Angels over the rest of the season.

1998

In his 2nd big league season with the Angels, struck out 29 and did not allow a home run in 30.1 innings of work...after pitching in 42 games for the Angels, was optioned on August 3 to Triple-A Vancouver, where he recorded 2 saves and a 1.74 ERA in 10 games before being recalled by the Angels September 1...allowed just one run in his 11 September contests (5.0 IP) to close out the season...allowed just one earned run in his final 24 big league games (11.1 IP)...notched the win in his 100th career appearance April 6 vs. Boston...served a 2-game suspension June 18-19 stemming from his ejection June 2 at Kansas City in which he hit Jose Offerman with a pitch.

1997

Led the Angels with 66 appearances in his first full big league campaign...allowed only 12 of his 56 inherited runners to score (21.4 percent), the 4th-best percentage in the A.L...registered his first career save May 14 vs. Baltimore...was not scored upon in 13 straight appearances from April 17-May 17 (6.2 IP).

1996

Split the season between California and Double-A Midland, remaining with the Angels for the duration of the season following his July 11 promotion...posted a 2.45 ERA, the best mark of his big league career...major league hitters batted only .214 off Holtz with runners on base, the 10th-best mark among A.L. relievers...struck out 31 in 29.1 innings, an average of 9.5 strikeouts per 9 innings...made his major league debut July 11 vs. Seattle, and went on to retire each of the first 12 batters he faced, 6 by way of the K...recorded his first big league win with 0.2 scoreless innings July 25 vs. Milwaukee...surrendered just one home run - the first long ball given up in his big league career - to Edgar Martinez July 18 vs. Seattle.

1995

Pitching for Single-A Lake Elsinore, led California League pitchers with 56 appearances and ranked 4th among relievers with 11.0 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (101 K's in 82.2 innings)...following the conclusion of the minor league season, participated in the Hawaiian Winter League and the Arizona Fall League.

1994

Made his professional debut with Single-A Boise, allowing just 2 earned runs in 35.0 innings for an ERA of 0.51...with 59 strikeouts in 35.0 innings, ranked 2nd among Northwest League relievers with 15.2 strikeouts per 9.0 innings...also tied for 4th in the league with 11 saves while limiting the opposition to a .171 batting average.