Clayton Walter Holmes (born March 27, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018.
Holmes was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft out of Slocomb High School in Slocomb, Alabama. He signed with the Pirates, receiving a $1.2 million signing bonus, forgoing his commitment to play college baseball at Auburn University.
In 2020 for the Pirates, Holmes only appeared in one game, pitching 1+1⁄3 scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in the season opener before being placed on the injured list on July 28 due to a right forearm strain and missing the remainder of the season. On December 2, Holmes was non-tendered by the Pirates.
Holmes re-signed with the Pirates on a minor league contract on December 4. On April 1, 2021, Holmes was selected to the 40-man roster. In 44 appearances for the Pirates, Holmes pitched to a 4.93 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 42 innings.
On July 26, 2021, the Pirates traded Holmes to the New York Yankees in exchange for Diego Castillo and Hoy Park. He would make his Yankee debut against the Tampa Bay Rays, shutting down the batters in order.
He would post a 1.61 ERA, 34 strikeouts, and 0.79 WHIP in 28 innings with his new team. Overall, Holmes finished the season with an ERA of 3.60, a WHIP of 1.17 while striking out 78 batters in 70 innings.
Clay has never divulged any information about his parents, he is a very private person who likes to keep his personal life away from media attention.