Clay Holmes set for a bullpen session as Mets track progress from fractured fibula

The Mets are continuing to measure Clay Holmes’ return from a fractured fibula with an eye toward when the late-inning right-hander can rejoin the bullpen mix. Interim manager Andy Green told reporters that Holmes is scheduled to throw a bullpen session this week, an encouraging step as the organization monitors progress after the injury sidelined him.

Holmes’ timeline matters in New York because he has been one of the team’s most important relief arms. When a closer-caliber pitcher is out, bullpen leverage changes immediately, with roles redistributed across setup pitchers and additional innings added to others. The Mets’ ability to manage those innings while Holmes builds back strength is a near-term roster and strategy challenge.

Green’s comments frame this week as a functional milestone rather than a guarantee of a near-term activation. In baseball recoveries, bullpen sessions tend to reveal how a pitcher’s mechanics hold up after throwing for the first time in a return-to-play progression, and whether soreness or limitations appear as intensity increases.

Holmes suffered the fractured fibula back in May, according to the Mets’ internal update relayed through Yahoo Sports. The injury’s location can affect lower-body load during delivery, so the Mets’ process will likely prioritize controlled throwing, then gradual increases, before any discussion of game action.

For fans and the clubhouse, the Mets’ emphasis on “encouraging” progress is the key takeaway. Interim-manager messaging often serves two purposes: it indicates the plan to the roster and it sets expectations. Green’s update suggests the organization believes Holmes is responding to rehab in a way that supports the next step.

The Mets also face the reality that bullpen depth is not interchangeable. Even if Holmes returns, his innings will likely be managed, and his role may be adjusted depending on how the team’s late-inning group performs during his absence. How quickly the Mets can restore a consistent high-leverage bullpen shape could affect how they handle close games as summer wears on.

What to watch next is simple: after the bullpen session, the organization will typically provide follow-up information about how Holmes felt during and after throwing, whether he needs additional sessions before another ramp-up stage, and the general pace of the remaining recovery steps.

If the week’s bullpen goes as expected, Holmes’ next decision point will shift from “recovery progress” to “readiness for pitching in games,” which will determine how quickly the Mets can tighten their late-inning plan around their top relief option.