Sep 18, 2014 By John Perrotto for The 3 min read

PITTSBURGH — Some context is needed to fully understand how amazing it is that John Holdzkom is pitching high-leverage innings for the Pirates in the midst of two playoff races.

The 6-foot-7 right-handed reliever spent the first three months of this season pitching in the bush leagues of the bush leagues. He was in the United League and American Association, which are considered second-level independent minor leagues.

Though he was the New York Mets’ fourth-round draft pick in 2006, he never got past Class A during seven seasons in affiliated baseball because of control problems on two levels — his inability to throw strikes with his blazing fastball on the field and his difficulty in controlling his temper off it.

There is much more to Holdzom’s backstory but space — and believability — force the encapsulation.

Holdzkom, in a nutshell, changed the grip on his fastball at the start of the season and began consistently throwing strikes. At 26, the natural maturation process of a young adult helped him gain better self-control.

The Pirates purchased Holdzkom’s contract from the Amarillo Dillas in June on the advice of scout Mal Fischman and assigned him to Class AA Altoona. Between Altoona and Class AAA Indianapolis, he went 3-0 with two saves and 1.95 ERA in 22 games while striking out 37 and allowing 15 hits in 27 2/3 innings.

The Pirates called Holdzkom up Sept. 1 when the major league roster limit expanded from 25 to 40 and he has become an integral part of the bullpen while the Bucs try to fend off the Milwaukee Brewers for the second National League wild card and catch the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central standings.

Holdzkom has been dominant as he had made six scoreless one-inning appearances going into Wednesday night’s game against the Boston Red Sox at PNC Park. He had notched a save while giving up only one hit and one walk with 10 strikeouts.

“It’s all so hard to believe,” Holdzkom said. “It’s almost like this hasn’t been real.”

It’s real all right. So real that manager Clint Hurdle has entrusted Holdzkom with pitching late in close games with so much at stake.

“His confidence level is good,” Hurdle. “There is something in every player that once you get up here and you can do something well, even if it’s just once, it’s like ‘OK'”

In Holdzkom’s case, it’s been better than OK. It’s been dominant. And storybook, too.