Career: Worked as a starting pitcher in three of his four seasons and made 30 career starts in 50 appearances for the Mountaineers … Had seven wins and 15 losses for App State.
2018: Posted a 2-3 record with a 6.57 ERA in seven games, including six starts. Had 16 strikeouts in 24.2 innings … Posted a 2-0 record with a 1.64 ERA, eight strikeouts and only one walk in his first two starts this season. Allowed no earned runs over five innings in his first start at league champion UNCG and gave up two runs while striking out six batters in six innings at Western Carolina … Part of a viral video in which he mimicked an attempt at an inside-the-park homer but was called out at home during a lengthy rain delay in the Coastal Carolina series.
2017: Often the Friday or Game 1 starter on the mound for the Mountaineers … Started in all 13 of his appearances, posting a 2-7 record with a 5.76 ERA. Had 44 strikeouts, 28 walks, 87 hits allowed and 51 runs allowed (42 earned) over 65.2 innings … Because of injury, missed the final two Sun Belt Conference series against South Alabama and Coastal Carolina … Opened a road series sweep of Gardner-Webb by allowing one run on seven hits and striking out four over 5.2 innings of a 5-4 victory … His other victory came when he allowed one run on five hits and struck out three batters over 5.0 innings of a 13-1 win against Georgia State … In App State’s 3-0 loss at No. 14 Louisiana, Holden pitched a season-high 8.0 innings and allowed three runs on nine hits … Had a season-high seven strikeouts in a season-opening start against VMI … Also allowed only one run as he pitched 6.2 innings in App State’s 6-3 loss to Texas State … Pitched at least 5.0 innings in each of his first seven starts and nine of his 13 starts.
2016: Saw action in 14 games as a reliever for the Mountaineers during his second year on the mound … through 19 strikeouts, allowing one run or less in nine of his 14 appearances … recorded at least two strikeouts in seven games … finished the season 1-1 with a 6.38 ERA … worked a scoreless 1.1 innings against eventual Sun Belt Conference runner-up Georgia Southern (March 11), striking out three batters … Saw two batters against Little Rock (April 1) striking them both out … got his lone win of the season against Quinnipiac (Feb. 27), pitching 3.1 innings and striking out two batters in a scoreless effort – the win was his third victory in his last five appearances at the time dating back to 2015.
2015: Held down the No. 3 spot in Appalachian State’s starting pitching rotation for much of his freshman season … made 16 appearances and tied for second on the team with 11 starts (by far the most among all returners in 2016 — second-most, six, Reed Howell) … 57.2 innings pitched were third-most on the squad (and most among 2016 returners) … after allowing only two hits over six scoreless innings in relief appearances against Villanova (Feb. 14) and Canisius (Feb. 21), moved into starting rotation vs. No. 16 Maryland (Feb. 28) … worked four innings but did not figure in the decision in Mountaineers’ 9-7 win over Terrapins … allowed two earned runs or less in five of his 11 starts but was 0-4 until the final weekend of the season, when he limited UT Arlington (May 8) to one run over five innings en route to his first-career victory … came out of the bullpen to work a scoreless ninth inning and earn the win in a 5-4 walkoff triumph over ETSU in season finale (May 12).
High School: Two-time honorable-mention Perfect Game all-Atlantic Region selection … two-time all-conference honoree … all-county selection … struck out 104, walked only 24 and compiled a 1.40 ERA over 85.3 innings to help lead West Forsyth to North Carolina 4A state championship as a senior … had 57 strikeouts and a 2.30 ERA in 56 innings as a junior … named team MVP as a junior and senior … South Atlantic Border Battle and Impact Futures Game participant … Perfect Game Atlantic Coast top prospect … coached by Brad Bullard … played summer/fall ball for Evoshiled Canes and Dirtbags (coached by Jeff Petty/Lee Land).
Personal: Full name is Travis West Holden … born June 16, 1995 … son of Chris and Luanne Holden … Holden's uncle, Ron Cannon, played baseball and football at Davidson … enjoys playing golf and fishing … majoring in history and social studies education ... member of Sun Belt Conference academic honor roll.
