Some athletes evolve, some adapt, and then there are those who insist nothing has changed—except maybe the paycheck. For one Mets pitcher, a hefty contract and career milestones aren’t enough to convince him that his mentality has shifted. It’s a bold stance, drenched in confidence, or perhaps just selective memory. Either way, he’s got plenty to say.

The Mets have had an average start to the spring training in the Grapefruit League. They are placed 13th in the standings with a 6-8 record. However, some individual performances have the Mets fans pumping, and one of those came from Clay Holmes. After transitioning from a reliever to a starter, fans thought it would be difficult for him to get all the wheels moving, but he has proved everyone wrong. During a press conference, he said, “I don’t think the mentality has necessarily changed, you know,” when asked about no one hitting the ball being still there.

Well, as a star pitcher, he would want to get all the outs possible and finish on a high. But that is not the first thing on his mind right now. He has been trying out different pitches other than his well-known changeups, and he is getting good results. In his most recent outing against the Nationals, Holmes looked his best. He pitched a total of 3 2/3 shutout innings with 8 strikeouts and one hit with a pitch count of 67. He showed what he can do, and he says he is still not done.

Holmes says that he will get a good read of his final pitch count in the next few games as he will try to push himself. If this is Holmes just warming up, the league better brace itself for what’s coming. His mentality may not have changed, but his dominance on the mound certainly has. Whether it’s confidence or sheer inevitability, one thing is clear—hitters won’t have much to smile about when he’s on the mound.

Carlos Mendoza is happy with Clay Holmes after the Mets game

When a manager is all smiles in Spring Training, you know something special is brewing. Clay Holmes seems to have given Carlos Mendoza every reason to believe that the Mets’ gamble is paying off. Whether it’s dominance or just a glimpse of what’s to come, one thing is clear—Mendoza likes what he sees. And in baseball, that’s half the battle won.

Clay Holmes is showing why the New York Mets paid $38 million to get him. After an eight-strikeout game against the Washington Nationals, Mets fans are praising Holmes, but mainly one other person was impressed, Carlos Mendoza, who said, “It was a good day for him overall.” This praise comes after Holmes says that he is not fully in control of the mound. Mendoza says that if he can pitch like that on a bad day, guess what he can do on a good one.

If this is Holmes on an off day, the rest of the league might want to start taking notes. Mendoza’s confidence isn’t just optimism—it’s a warning. Because when Holmes finally feels in control, hitters won’t stand a chance.