When Greg Holland was offered a contract with the Colorado Rockies, the call came from pitching coach Steve Foster himself.
“He called me and asked if I’d be interested. We had a long talk and discussions started from there,” Holland said of Foster.
Foster making the call was not just an acknowledgment of the relationship the two would build if the former All-Star were to agree to terms with the Rockies, it was a testament to the relationship they already shared.
This won’t be the first time the two have worked together. When Holland reached the major leagues with the Kansas City Royals in 2010, Foster was the bullpen coach.
Foster says their relationship started as most do between a player and a coach, but the way Holland handled himself in relief quickly made him stand out.
“This guy is a leader, not just because of the things he does on the field, but the way he carries himself. A coach notices things like that,” Foster said. “We look for guys with presence, guys that take the game seriously and act like a man. I felt Greg did that from the time he got to the big leagues. I just got to be a part of that. Our relationship is not just coach and player.”
Holland agreed.
“When you play baseball you go through your ups and downs just like you do in any job or experience,” he said. Having someone to talk to that really has a deep moral compass like he (Foster) does can really he you out mentally, because a lot of times stuff going on in your life can affect the way you perform out on the field.”
As Holland faces the hitter-friendly Coors Field in his returning year from Tommy John surgery, having the support of a friend and confidant could make all the difference. As for Foster, after working so closely with Holland he has no doubt the pitcher has the right mind and attitude to succeed in his new environment. He may know better than anyone.
“The guys that I found out that are able to succeed here have the one overarching quality that Greg possesses, and that is mental toughness,” said Foster. “The fact he (Holland) already admitted to having a short memory is a great quality for a major league closer and that is what makes a major league closer. That is what attracted me to Greg.”
Foster wasn’t beyond predicting some big things for Holland’s future, and not just the 2017 season. “I think one way [Holland] showed [leadership] was the way he talked the game with other players,” he says. He talks the game and will be a great coach … once he gets another 100-200 saves maybe.”
