Gulfport, Mississippi State product 1 step closer to big leagues

Former Gulfport and Mississippi State baseball star Jonathan Holder is one step closer to the big leagues.

Holder has been promoted to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Pa.), the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees.

The right-handed reliever has spent most of his season at Double-A Trenton (N.J.), where he had a 2.20 ERA and 10 saves in 11 opportunities. He struck out 59 and walked just seven with a 2.20 ERA in 41 innings.

Holder, 23, is in his third season as a pro after he was selected in the sixth round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He was Sun Herald Pitcher of the Year at Gulfport in 2011 and was a consensus All-American at Mississippi State in 2013.

This story was originally published July 22, 2016 at 1:20 PM with the headline "Gulfport, Mississippi State product 1 step closer to big leagues."