Vanderbilt baseball signee Bo Holloway can handle pressure. How R.A. Dickey helped

MURFREESBORO — The ball hissed, the glove popped and Bo Holloway’s reaction told the rest of the story.

The Christ Presbyterian Academy pitcher and Vanderbilt baseball signee’s emotional strikeout to end the sixth inning in the Lions’ 7-5 win over Baylor on May 19 was one of several pressure moments he faced in the TSSAA baseball Division II-AA state tournament on May 19.

Holloway helped lead CPA (32-6-1) to the semifinals to face Brentwood Academy (28-10). One or two years ago, Holloway might not have been able to do that, he said, which is where CPA pitching coach and former MLB star R.A. Dickey comes in.

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Dickey, who was a star pitcher at Tennessee, likes to say that Holloway already all the necessary tools. But Holloway became a sponge for Dickey’s knowledge after transferring from Nolensville in the offseason. The two have gotten close on and off the field.

Dickey’s best piece of advice was encouraging Holloway to take a bigger view of his life and not let baseball results define who he is.

“I kind of just was in a place where I felt like I didn’t have a good mentor to help me navigate situations of pressure,” Holloway said. “I’m not trying to live up to an expectation anymore. I’m pitching for fun. It’s something I’m good at, but it’s not everything.”

Baylor (26-6) homered twice of Holloway. In the past, his emotions would have taken over. That’s not been the case this season.

Holloway, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound left-hander with a 98-mph fastball, is enjoying a career year and could be an MLB draft selection in June. He entered the state tournament 8-0 with a 1.67 ERA and 72 strikeouts to 13 walks. He was a DII-AA Mr. Baseball finalist and the DII-AA Middle Region Pitcher of the Year.

“He’s a kind-hearted human being whether he plays baseball or not,” Dickey said. “That’s part of what I do. ‘You do this well, but it’s not who you are.’ When you do that, you pitch free. My instruction for him is all about freedom.”

Dickey has helped with Holloway’s mechanics to create a repeatable delivery that is more linear and not side-to-side. Beyond that, if he and Dickey are chatting after an outing, it’s usually about how Holloway felt mentally that day.

“There are so many people who would die to do this. I know that sounds cliche, but it helps me pitch better,” Holloway said. “I pitch grateful that I get to do this. Obviously, I’ve developed some mental cues. But (in tough situations) I just step off and breathe and say a little prayer and get back on the mound.”

Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.

He also contributes to The Tennessean’s high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: R.A. Dickey a key mentor for Vanderbilt baseball signee Bo Holloway