Holland Hoping to Look Past Injured Past

From 2011-2013, Derek Holland was just about as durable as you could hope for from a No. 3ish starting pitcher. In those three seasons, Holland averaged more than 195 innings per season and had a career year in 2013 with a 3.42 ERA in 213 innings.

Since then, it's been all downhill.

Prior to the 2014, Holland infamously fell down his stairs and needed microfracture surgery on his knee. He didn't make his debut that year until September, by which time the Rangers were well out of playoff contention.

In 2015, with Yu Darvish fresh off Tommy John surgery, Holland was being counted on as the No. 1 starter. His season went off the rails after just one inning and nine pitches as he was shelved for four months with a shoulder injury.

Now, he's seen as a No. 2 starter who will slide back to No. 3 when Darvish returns in June, and he's hoping for nothing more than a healthy year.

"I know we're going to probably slowly try to somehow mention the last two years, but I'm going to make sure it doesn't happen," Holland told the Associated Press. "The injuries are gone, we're worried about 2016, and I feel very confident and very happy with the way things are going."

When Holland's been at his best, he's been very good. He still has what might be the greatest postseason start in club history when he threw 8 1/3 scoreless innings in a World Series win over the Cardinals. He also has eight career shutouts, including one last season after his return from the bum shoulder.

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Holland wants more of those outings, and he's ready to move on and forget about the past. The Rangers hope the injuries have moved on from Holland, too.

"The main thing is stay positive, always have the high hopes, keep your ceiling as high as you possibly can," Holland said. "Obviously injuries have happened, and no, we're not going to continue to talk about it. But don't let that affect you, don't let it slow you down. ... Move forward and get yourself prepared for what's next."

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