Jul 3, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman
Brock Holt(26) fields a ground ball during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Option C: Use Brock Holt at first
This isn’t really an option right now with regular second baseman Dustin Pedroia on the shelf with a hamstring injury. However, once Pedroia returns (likely after the All-Star break), playing Holt everyday at first base could make a lot of sense for the Red Sox.
Holt has proven that he can excel all over the diamond and has some limited experience at first base, most notably last June when he filled in for Napoli during a stint on the disabled list. Plus, though Holt may not be the typical power-hitting first baseman, he’s hit with the best of them this season as he has slashed .293/.379/.418 en route to an All-Star berth.
The Red Sox probably couldn’t actually play Holt at first every single game, just because he would have to occasionally fill in at other positions. However, if the Red Sox used Holt as their starting first baseman while spelling him with Napoli or perhaps Ortiz, they’d likely wind up with significantly better production from first than they’ve had to this point in the year.