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Red Sox: Four must-watch players in Spring Training

By Stephen Coelho

FT. MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 19: David Price of the Boston Red Sox runs stretches while blowing a bubble at a spring training workout at Fenway South on February 19, 2016 in Ft. Myers, Florida. (Photo by Cliff McBride/Getty Images)
FT. MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 19: David Price of the Boston Red Sox runs stretches while blowing a bubble at a spring training workout at Fenway South on February 19, 2016 in Ft. Myers, Florida. (Photo by Cliff McBride/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 08: Brock Holt (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 08: Brock Holt (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /

Brock Holt

The Red Sox’ only All-Star in 2015 is hoping to rebound from two disappointing years. After two promising seasons, Brock Holt was expected to be the starting left fielder for the 2016 season. However, he suffered a concussion that May and never regained his spot in the lineup. Holt’s concussion was originally considered mild, however, the side effects lingered through 2017.

Last Two Years

2016: 324 PA | 7 HR | 34 RBI | .255 BA | .705 OPS | 86 OPS+ | 0.2 WAR
2017: 164 PA | 0 HR | 7 RBI | .200 BA | .548 OPS | 47 OPS+ | -0.9 WAR

2018 Outlook

Concussions can make life much more difficult, and they can make performing as an athlete next to impossible. Fortunately, all signs seem to point to Holt being fully recovered. Not only will this help Holt stay on the field, but it should allow him to better prepare himself throughout Spring Training.

With Dustin Pedroia out, most projections have Marco Hernandez starting at second base on Opening Day. However, the Red Sox still need Holt to re-emerge as an impact player this season. Fortunately, Holt’s combined numbers from his last two healthy seasons suggest that he could bounce back in 2018.

2014-2015: 1001 PA | 6 HR | 74 RBI | .280 BA | .720 OPS | 97 OPS+ | 4.7 WAR

The grind of a baseball season comes with no guarantees. In 2017, the Red Sox’ lack of power was obvious, but a lack of bench depth was equally damaging to the lineup. Holt is one of the only players in baseball who can fill a void at any position. There will undoubtedly be times during 2018 when the Red Sox are thin and will need to rely on Holt to step up. Look for him to regain comfort at the plate this March, and provide the same spark he did two years ago.

Next: Could the Red Sox pursue Charlie Blackmon?

As always, feel free to leave comments, and be sure to follow BoSox injection for coverage of Red Sox news and opinions throughout Spring Training.

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