NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes will be sidelined indefinitely after suffering a broken right fibula when struck by a 111 mph line drive during Friday night’s game, dealing another crushing injury blow to the struggling franchise.
Holmes, who has been among the Mets’ most reliable performers this season, was struck just above his right foot on a leadoff single during the fourth inning by Yankees rookie Spencer Jones in the Subway Series opener at Citi Field.
The ball bounced past first base into foul ground as Mets manager Carlos Mendoza and a trainer rushed from the dugout to assess Holmes. The right-handed pitcher tossed a couple of warmup throws and continued playing.
Holmes walked the next six batters he faced, but then struck out two consecutive hitters and got Aaron Judge to fly out with runners on all three bases, completing a shutout inning.
The pitcher was removed after issuing a walk with one out in the fifth frame. Holmes threw 95 total pitches, with 26 coming after Jones’ line drive made contact with his leg.
Following the contest, Mendoza revealed that X-rays confirmed a fractured right fibula that will keep Holmes out of action for an undetermined period.
Holmes, a former Yankees reliever who trains with Jones at the same Nashville, Tennessee facility, has been a steady rotation member since transitioning to starting after joining the Mets as a free agent prior to the 2025 campaign. He ranked third in the National League with a 1.86 ERA entering Friday’s matchup.
Holmes (4-4) allowed four runs on seven hits across 4 1/3 innings in the 5-2 defeat, pushing his ERA up to 2.39. He recorded eight strikeouts while issuing two walks.
Through his first eight outings this season, Holmes had completed at least five innings while giving up two runs or fewer in every start.
The expensive Mets fell to 18-26 with the loss. Four expected starters are already on the injury report — shortstop Francisco Lindor, catcher Francisco Alvarez, first baseman Jorge Polanco and center fielder Luis Robert Jr. — alongside struggling starter Kodai Senga and reserves Ronny Mauricio and Jared Young.
