ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Diamondbacks name Greg Holland closer to open 2019 season

Mar 24, 2019, 3:35 PM | Updated: 4:41 pm

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Greg Holland throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the four...

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Greg Holland throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the fourth inning of a spring baseball game in Scottsdale, Ariz., Monday, March 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo on Sunday named Greg Holland as the team’s closer for the start of the 2019 season.

Holland, 33, beat out fellow reliever Archie Bradley and Yoshihisa Hirano for the position.

Lovullo said Holland’s experience as a closer was a key factor in the decision.

“Greg Holland’s stuff really started to be productive,” Lovullo said on Sunday. “As I’ve been saying for the last couple of days, it takes a little bit of time for a veteran to walk into spring training and know what he’s got to do to get where he’s got to get to by the end of camp.”

Holland had a 12.27 ERA in four spring appearances for the D-backs, but was the only of the three candidates to have extended experience as a closer.

Holland served as the closer for the Kansas City Royals between 2012-15 and as the Colorado Rockies’ closer in 2017.

He has 189 career saves.

Bradley and Hirano have a combined seven saves.

“It was a great competition,” Lovullo said. “Those three guys were getting after it.”

Lovullo added that Bradley “was strong considered” for the role and expects him to one day become the D-backs closer.

Lovullo said he will use Bradley in the same high-leverage role he was used in last year when Brad Boxberger was the D-backs closer.

Hirano will also be used in a setup role, per Lovullo.

“We have three moving parts (in the bullpen) that will help us win big innings for us,” Lovullo said.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Lourdes Gurriel Jr....

Alex Weiner

Diamondbacks keep good times rolling with 14-run inning, Opening Day rout of Rockies

What the Diamondbacks accomplished in the third inning against the Rockies on Thursday night was completely new for those in the ballpark. 

3 hours ago

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. flips his bat during Arizona Diamondbacks' 2024 Opening Day...

Arizona Sports

Diamondbacks score 14 runs in a single inning to beat Rockies on Opening Day

The Arizona Diamondbacks set franchise marks with 13 hits and 14 runs in the third inning of their 2024 Opening Day game against the Rockies.

7 hours ago

Blaze Alexander...

Alex Weiner

Blaze Alexander did all he could to make Diamondbacks’ Opening Day roster

Diamondbacks infielder Blaze Alexander put together a spring that made it too difficult for the team to send him back to the minor leagues.

10 hours ago

Ketel Marte celebrates...

Tyler Drake

Ketel Marte to lead off Arizona Diamondbacks’ Opening Day lineup

The Arizona Diamondbacks' Opening Day lineup is set ahead of their matchup against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

14 hours ago

Jordan Montgomery throws a pitch...

Tyler Drake

Hall: Diamondbacks’ addition of Jordan Montgomery ‘made a lot of sense’

The Diamondbacks' addition of Jordan Montgomery puts a bow on a rotation that should be in the conversation for the top spot across MLB.

15 hours ago

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno...

Arizona Sports

Roundtable picks: One Diamondbacks young player to watch in 2024

Which Arizona Diamondbacks player should continue an upward trend in 2024? Gabriel Moreno, Brandon Pfaadt and Alek Thomas are possibilities.

16 hours ago

Diamondbacks name Greg Holland closer to open 2019 season