Mineral Wells Area News

By DAVID MAY | Special to Mineral Wells Area News

A lot of eyes and radar guns are focused on Mineral Rams senior pitcher Holden Herin

Every year, elite high school baseball prospects anticipate hearing their name called in the major league draft and – if so – facing that big decision to go straight to the pros or delay that opportunity and play at least three years at the collegiate level.

Mineral Wells has just such a player in senior Holden Hering. The imposing 6-foot, 6-inch 230-pound right-handed pitcher has had a representative from almost every MLB team pull up Google Maps on their phone to locate Mineral Wells and come scout and visit with Holden and his family.

That is what happens when you have four equally effective pitches, featuring a fastball that consistently clocks at 92-95 mph with a changeup, cutter and slider, and have showcased and proven your skills at the highest levels of the sport.

“It’s awesome,” Holden said. “I didn’t really think I’d be in this position two years ago but I just kept working hard. I am blessed to have an opportunity to have some guys out here and watching.”

Among the teams Holden said he and his family have spoken with include the Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Florida Marlins, Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants.

“There’s a bunch,” he said. “I think I’ve had up to 20 teams come out this year.”

“They are in and out all the time,” first-year Rams head baseball coach Jacob Clay said. “Him and Coach Hart (Holden’s father) are always taking meetings from several of them. At the first scrimmage there were a bunch out here and at Krum there were lots of them there as well.”

Should his name get called in July, he and his family will decide whether to play professionally straight out of high school or take his talents to Texas Tech University, where he is already committed and signed.

“It is going to be a tough one, for sure. It’s a great decision to make,” Holden said. “I’m blessed to have an opportunity to make that decision. It is going to come down to if I think it’s the right fit for me. There are pros and cons to both. Right now I wouldn’t say I’m leaning more one way than the other. I am going to have my options open at all times. When it comes down to when my name gets called, just making the decision that I think is best for me and my family.”

Practically born with a rosin bag in his hand, Holden and his freshman brother, Hayes, have been around baseball their entire lives. Coach Hering has coached baseball at the collegiate and high school levels for their entire lives. The boys have grown up in dugouts, on the field and in the locker rooms seeing firsthand how the game is played mentally and physically.

The Herings moved to Mineral Wells last summer when dad took an opportunity to return to the area as a Mineral Wells assistant football and baseball coach, reuniting with Clay and coaches who were together at Brock. Hart Hering stepped away from coaching for a couple of years to take an opportunity that sent the family to College Station, where Holden played for the Cougars.

With his family’s support and sacrifices, Holden chased his pro dreams playing on select travel teams, catching the eyes of baseball scouts who liked what they saw in the big and powerful righty who could frustrate and dominate hitters from the mound.

Coach Hering said it was a great opportunity to be on the field with both his sons, and says the family is enjoying being in Mineral Wells. He said it is exciting to see his son’s dreams coming true and hopes they have the opportunity this summer to help Holden decide which path to take.

“We will see how it plays out after the season, that may be a decision we have to make,” Hart Hering said. “I think that is where we are at. It’s a little too early to tell. If his name does get called and it’s the right fit and the right organization. I think it’s every little kid’s dream. I had that same dream. I think he’s in a win-win situation no matter which way he chooses to go and he will still have that opportunity to live out that dream.”

Dad said Holden’s prospects took off after his sophomore and junior seasons.

“He kind of had two big summers after his sophomore and junior years,” said Coach Hering. “He emerged on the national scene playing in the select summer ball travel circuit. He played in some of the premier events and faced some of the best competition in the country. He really excelled and showed well, and I think that is what gained him interest from the professional level.”

Perfect Game USA named him an All-American and invited him to play in their A-A Classic game last season. PG says of Holden: “Big and physical build with very good present strength. Rocker step delivery with a leg raise to the belt, on line arm stroke with loose and easy extension out front, low-effort release. Fastball topped out at 93 mph with more velocity in there, high spin fastball with good life. Threw both a slider and a curveball with different shapes and quality to both of them. Change up was a solid pitch as well with nice sink, will drop his slot on this pitch occasionally. Four pitch mix of very good pitches with feel for throwing them for strikes. Good student, verbal commitment to Texas Tech.”

Rams fans saw Holden’s size, strength and athleticism last fall as a tight end for the Rams. On the baseball field, when not sending batters back to the dugout, he can play almost any other position on the infield or in the outfield. He has a powerful bat, which he displayed Thursday in the Rams’ 11-2 win over Decatur. Holden batted in four runs and scored three times. Three of his RBIs came on a home run, with a double plating his other RBI. He also drew two walks.

“That is what makes him great. He can do it all,” Coach Clay said. “Obviously for us we need him to hit. He’s a good hitter.”

Holden had nine strikeouts in a recent game over Godley, where on a chilly night his fastball was consistently clocked at 92-94 mph with a registered high of 96 mph. He followed that up with a stellar six-inning performance last Saturday against Henrietta, fanning 13 batters while allowing just one hit and no walks on 70 pitches.

“He was pretty on point,” said Coach Clay. “We need him to be efficient. He was.”

Holden said he enjoys playing golf and fishing with his friends when not practicing or playing. He is taking it all in stride, excited to see what the future holds.

“Right now, I don’t think it puts any pressure (on me). I just try to be who I am to the best of my ability and I know everything will work out in the end,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Rams are of to a strong 4-1 start. While the young Hayes Hering isn’t as big – yet – as his brother he is getting a lot of time on the mound and in the field as well and excelling as well.

“This weekend will be really tough and will challenge us,” Clay said of this weekend’s tournament featuring a slate of games at Pratt Field, which began with Thursday’s win over Decatur. “We will see what we are made of. We are really solid.”

Mineral Wells finished third in district in 2024 and made the playoffs, but they were unable to advance past the bi-district round.

“With Holden, his brother, a couple of others, I feel like we have a really good team. We are still trying to find ourselves,” said Clay. “They are trying to figure out me as I am trying to figure out them. That being said, we are off to a really good start.”

Holden is scheduled to start Friday’s scheduled 7 p.m. game against Alvarado. The Rams conclude the weekend slate with a 3 p.m. game against Burkburnett.