Scouting Report: Sam Clay

Summary

Clay Holmes, a 33-year-old right-handed starting pitcher for the New York Mets, suffered a fractured right fibula on May 16, 2026, when struck by a 111 mph line drive off the bat of Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones. Holmes was placed on the 15-day Injured List. Medical evaluation confirmed no surgery is necessary. Holmes is expected to require 6-8 weeks of recovery followed by approximately 6 weeks of spring training-style ramp-up, with a projected return to the rotation in August 2026. Prior to the injury, Holmes was performing exceptionally well as a starter with a 1.69 ERA (second-lowest among qualified NL starters) and a 4-4 record with a 2.39 ERA in 2026. Manager Carlos Mendoza expressed confidence in Holmes' return and emphasized his value to the team both on and off the field.