Holmes was born in Dos Palos, California, where in high school one of his baseball teammates was future major leaguer Dave Henderson.
Playing for the Visalia Oaks in 1983, Holmes had perhaps the best year of his professional career when he hit .302 with 37 home runs and 115 RBI in 500 at-bats.
In 1985, playing for both the Orlando Twins and Toledo Mud Hens, he hit a combined .235 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI in 340 at-bats.
In 1986, he again played for Orlando and Toledo, hitting a combined .244 with 15 home runs and 60 RBI in 315 at-bats.
While playing for the Edmonton Trappers in 1988, he slumped and hit only .254 with 14 home runs and 62 RBI in 331 at-bats.