"I don't even know -- it hasn't even hit me yet," said Holland. "It probably won't hit me until I get out on the field. Even on the drive down here [from Oklahoma City], it didn't hit me."
Holland was draft-and-follow player in the 25th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft and has been used almost exclusively as a starter. Texas wants to get his feet wet in a relief role.
"As we looked at it, Derek was the best option for our bullpen," general manager Jon Daniels said. "It's something we discussed in Spring Training, breaking camp in this role. We feel he's a strike thrower with the stuff and the maturity to handle it. He'll be used initially in the bullpen.
"Obviously, we see him as a starter down the line, but right now he'll be in the bullpen."
So far this season Rangers relievers have a combined ERA of 8.63, having allowed 43 hits and 21 walks in 32 1/3 innings. They have allowed runs in eight of the club's 10 games.
"We're trying to straighten out the bullpen, especially in the middle," manager Ron Washington said. "We looked down there, and he was the best we have. We'll use him as a long guy and probably try to get him multiple innings whenever he comes in. It will probably be before the eighth.
"We'll watch him closely. We certainly won't abuse him. We won't leave him out there to take a beating."
Holland is ready to go no matter the role given him. "Relieving is fine with me. When the time comes, you still have to go out and throw. Nothing has changed. I feel good. I feel ready."
"We feel he's ready to handle this thing," Daniels said. "I'm not saying there won't be bumps in the road, but he's here to contribute to the team right now in the bullpen. We'll see where that goes."
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