Colin Holderman may get mad, but he doesn't look to get even with Mets

Colin Holderman chats amicably with all who pass his locker cubicle looking to engage in conversation.

But that’s only one side of the Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher, not the personality trait general manager Ben Cherington was trading for last year when he sent Daniel Vogelbach to the New York Mets on July 22.

Holderman, who will reunite with some former teammates and friends starting Friday when the Mets visit PNC Park for a three-game series, holds down a high-leverage role in the Pirates bullpen.

He has accumulated 12 holds, a baseball stat that reflects a pitcher’s ability to maintain the status quo for the next pitcher after entering the game — often in the eighth inning — in a save situation.

Through most of the season, Holderman has pitched well, striking out 27 with only six walks in 23 innings with a 2.74 ERA.

But there have been sour moments, too, specifically his past two outings when he allowed a total of five hits and two runs in 1 1/3 innings. He recovered to earn his first career save Monday against the Oakland A’s, employing a seldom-seen weapon: his own anger.

“This year, I’ve had a few times when I’ve had to get out of some sticky situations,” he said. “So I get as mad as I possibly can and try to get nasty and hope it works out. That’s all I really do is get mad.”

When he saved Monday’s 5-4 victory — David Bednar wasn’t available after working on each of the previous three days — Holderman allowed three hits in the ninth. Catcher Austin Hedges erased one baserunner who was attempting to steal, and Holderman got the final two outs with runners on the corners.

“I wish it was a little less theatrics,” he said. “I’m glad the fans had some fun. I gained a few gray hairs. I’m glad it’s over with.”

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Holderman’s ticket to Pittsburgh came as the result of the Mets needing a left-handed designated hitter and the Pirates eyeing the future. (Vogelbach is hitting .203 with two home runs and 14 RBIs this season.)

The Pirates’ half of the trade didn’t reap immediate benefits.

“I was hurt when I got traded,” Holderman said of a shoulder injury.

The Pirates were willing to wait.

“We saw a big power arm that we thought if we got ahead of it with our performance and medical group and we took care of it, that we were going to have a leverage reliever,” Shelton said. “I knew at times last year people probably wanted to see him pitch more.”

He threw only 10 2/3 innings for the Pirates, allowing eight runs.

“But there was a process to what we felt we were getting and how we were going to go about it,” Shelton said. “In the long run, we’ve done a nice job with it, and it’s a credit to Holdy and it’s a credit to both those two groups that he’s been able to maintain his health.”

“When I went on the (injured list), it was for the better,” Holderman said. “I needed some rest and to get healed up. That’s all it was, make sure I was healthy for this year. It took a couple months, physical therapists here and in Austin, Texas, in the offseason. We really got after it. Early in the offseason, I was 100%.

“A lot of strengthening and stability work for my shoulder. There were some deficiencies in there, and it was causing some pain.”

Meanwhile, Holderman holds no ill will toward the Mets, who drafted him in the ninth round in 2016.

“I’m a little bit removed now, and it’s not as important, but I’m looking forward to seeing some guys and throwing well against them,” he said. “They have a lot of guys signed long-term there, so their team doesn’t change too much.”

“You try not to (seek revenge), but there’s always a little something there. You don’t say they got rid of you, but that’s what it feels like sometimes. You want to show, ‘This is who I am, this is who I am now.’ There’s a little bit extra there.

“I was a little surprised (to be traded), just because I had so many years of control (before he could become a free agent).

“Honestly, I thought I was going to Triple-A when I got called in the office. It kind of caught me by surprise, but it’s definitely for the better. I love the situation (where) I’m at and the opportunity I have.”