The Bosox Injection team is grading every player on the Sox based on their performances from the 2018 season. Next up is utility man Brock Holt.
On a World Series Championship team that boasted five All-Stars, contributions from some Boston Red Sox players can be overlooked. That is what happened this season for utility man Brock Holt, who quietly had arguably his most productive season in 2018.
After concussions and a battle with vertigo limited his playing time the last two seasons, Holt played in 109 games in 2018, batting .277 with seven home runs, 46 RBI and 41 runs scored. His .362 OBP and .411 SLG were career highs for the 30-year-old, as was his .338 wOBA and 109 wRC+.
Hitting towards the bottom of the order for the majority of his games, Holt’s .327 average with runners on base provided the Red Sox with enough production for him to steal playing time from the likes of Eduardo Nunez and Rafael Devers.
While injuries plaguing Dustin Pedroia throughout the season left Holt playing the majority of his games at second base, he made his way all over the diamond this season, playing every infield position and both corner outfield spots for Boston throughout the year. He made a single error in the field in 2018, and his combined 1.5 UZR among all positions showed that his defensive versatility was more than just useful when manager Alex Cora needed to give a player a day off. Holt’s ability to be a capable defender no matter where he is placed is a skill that every team wishes they had.
Postseason
The highlight of Holt’s postseason was, of course, hitting for the cycle in Game 3 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees en route to a 16-1 victory for the Red Sox. While his ninth-inning homer was off Yankees catcher Austin Romine, it was still the first cycle in playoff history and counts in the record books all the same.
Playing in eight games throughout the postseason, Holt did his part to ensure the World Series title came home to Boston for the fourth time this century. Holt secured his second ring with the team after 2013 where he only played in 26 games and was not a part of the postseason roster.
Grade
Even in his utility role, Holt made the most of a season where during Spring Training his place on the roster wasn’t guaranteed. Filling in where and when he was needed, Holt did what was asked of him, and then some. Plus, it’s hard to complain much when the season ends in a World Series victory.
Looking Forward to 2019
Going into the offseason, Holt is eligible for his third and final year of salary arbitration. MLB Trade Rumors projects Holt to make $3.4 million in 2019, a well-deserved raise from his $2.5 million salary in 2018.
Holt’s playing time in 2019 is not going to be consistent, as it never has been throughout his career. Every starter from 2018 is returning next season, and a big factor could be the status of Dustin Pedroia. If Pedey is not ready by Opening Day, Holt is a better option at second base than Eduardo Nunez, especially defensively.
There is also the chance that coming off the year he had, and with just one more season of team control, general manager Dave Dombrowski could attempt to trade Holt to clear cap space on the Red Sox already inflated payroll and add to Boston’s depleted farm system. While a possibility, what Holt brings to the team would be hard to replace, making moving the 2014 All-Star unlikely.
If he stays with Boston, whether starting or coming off the bench, Cora and Dombrowski will find a way to get Holt playing time, as his 2018 season shows he can be productive no matter what role he is in.