2014 recap:
Brock Holt, the 26 year-old lefty from Texas, played 106 games with Boston and only 27 games down in AAA Pawtucket. This was a natural progression after his 2013 season when he played 83 games in Pawtucket and only 26 games in the big leagues. In 2014 Holt batted .281 with .711 OPS. He stole 12 bases, hit 4 home runs, and knocked in 48 RBIs. This well-above-average performance earned him eighth place in Rookie of the Year voting.
Holt played with an enthusiasm that was not unlike that of fan-favorite Dustin Pedroia. Perhaps he should have been named Brock “Jack-of-all-trades” Holt for his versatility. Moving Brock around doesn’t seem to phase him, which is impressive for someone so young. He played 42 games in the outfield, 37 at third base, seven at second base, and eight at first base. He had a perfect fielding percentage when playing the outfield and an average of .965 when playing in the infield.
2015 preview:
There are some questions surrounding the Red Sox outfield at the moment. Given the fact that Brock Holt can play all over the place and the Sox already have Shane Victorino, Daniel Nava, Jackie Bradley Jr., Bryce Brentz, Rusney Castillo, Allen Craig, and Hanley Ramirez listed for the outfield does that mean that someone could be part of a trade? Perhaps JBJ could find himself heading out of Boston as a piece in a trade for a starting pitcher, something the Sox need dearly.
This season the Red Sox will depend on Holt’s good defense. It will be a perfect chance for Brock to demonstrate he can bulk up a little in order to stay healthy for a whole season and solidify his place on a major-league roster.