Boston Red Sox icon Brock Holt has recounted a deeply disturbing moment from the team's historic 2018 championship season, revealing that a former teammate threatened to murder the entire roster in a bizarre and terrifying outburst.
The Shocking Revelation on Podcast
During a recent appearance on the 'Section 10 Podcast', Holt was discussing the Red Sox's decision to part ways with star infielder Rafael Devers for off-field issues when he disclosed an even more alarming incident from that memorable year.
The 2018 Red Sox team remains celebrated as one of baseball's greatest squads, with Holt achieving the remarkable distinction of becoming the only MLB player ever to hit for the cycle in a postseason game as Boston captured their fourth World Series championship of the decade.
A Terrifying Team Meeting
"We had a guy or two in '18 like that and we got rid of them," the former utility player explained, setting the stage for his chilling account.
"We were in Tampa, and we were in a circle stretching before batting practice and having a good ol' time," Holt continued. "And this someone looks around at all of us and says, 'You know what? I'm going to bring a gun to the field tomorrow and kill all of you.'"
The threat became even more personal when the teammate singled out Holt, declaring, "And you're gonna be first."
Holt responded with immediate concern, telling the teammate, "Dude, I know you're probably joking, but you can't say that."
Swift Organizational Response
The incident allegedly occurred during Boston's series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field from May 22-24, 2018. Holt chose not to identify the teammate involved, but described how the situation escalated quickly.
"Our strength coach at the time was like, 'Dude, I got to tell [then-team president Dave Dombrowski],'" Holt recalled. "And I was like, 'Please do because I'm the first one that's going to go. We don't have a lot of time, let's get him out of here.'"
Remarkably, on May 25, just one day after their final game against the Rays, the Red Sox designated first baseman Hanley Ramirez for assignment. No other players were designated for assignment during the months of April through June that season, suggesting a possible connection to the threatening incident.
A Historic Season Despite Turmoil
While Boston fans cherish the 2018 season for its ultimate triumph, Holt's revelation underscores that the championship journey wasn't without significant challenges and internal drama.
The Red Sox's achievement that year was truly historic. Their tally of 108 victories established a new franchise record for wins in a single season, surpassing the previous high of 105 set way back in 1912.
Furthermore, Boston's win total represented the most victories by any MLB team since the 2001 Seattle Mariners won 116 games, making their World Series championship even more impressive given the internal tensions Holt has now disclosed.
The 2018 squad's accomplishments continue to resonate throughout baseball history, but Holt's account adds a sobering layer to understanding the complex dynamics that championship teams sometimes navigate behind the scenes.
