Boston Red Sox: Three up, three down since the All-Star Break
Down: Brock Holt
After struggling in 2017, both with his on-field performances and with injuries, it felt good to watch Brock Holt get off to such a strong start this season. Throughout March, April, May, June, and the first half of July, Holt was a key contributor to the offense and an integral part of the team. When in the lineup, he seemed to find a way to get things going more often than not. When in the dugout, his energy kept the team going. While the latter has remained true since the All-Star Break, the former, unfortunately, has not.
The Red Sox have played 15 games since the Mid-Summer Classic, and Holt has taken at least one at-bat in 12 of them. In those 12 games, Holt has accumulated just three hits, and two of those came in one game. His K/BB ratio doesn’t look any better. He’s struck out six times and walked four since the start of the second half, and has 14 strikeouts to seven walks since July 1. He hasn’t hit a home run since April 17.
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Holt remains a key bench piece and an excellent utility fielder, but he’s become an offensive black hole of late. The Red Sox need him to contribute; he plays too often for them to tolerate such anemic production. The postseason is rapidly approaching, and there’s no time for listless at-bats in October. Holt will put in the work to get right before the end of the regular season, but we need to see that work pay off soon.