Boston Red Sox legend Brock Holt has recalled the terrifying moment a teammate threatened to kill the entire roster – before he was released over the bizarre outburst.
The 2018 Red Sox team remains one of the greatest in baseball history, with Holt becoming the only MLB player ever to hit for the cycle in a postseason game as they became World Series champions.
While Boston fans will always look back on that season with immense pride, it wasn’t always smooth sailing on their way to the championship that year, nevertheless.
During an appearance on the ‘Section 10 Podcast’, Holt was discussing the Red Sox cutting ties with star infielder Rafael Devers for off-field reasons when he revealed that one of his former teammates was released for something far more shocking.
‘We had a guy or two in ’18 like that and we got rid of them,’ the ex-utility player explained.
‘We were in Tampa, and we were in a circle stretching before BP and having a good ol’ time. 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.”
Red Sox legend Brock Holt has recalled an ex-teammate threatening to kill the entire roster
Holt said on ‘Section 10 Podcast’ that the teammate warned he would ‘bring a gun to the field’
‘And then he looks straight at me and says, “And you’re gonna be first.”
‘I was like, “Dude, I know you’re probably joking, but you can’t say that.”‘
Holt did not name the teammate in question, but the incident allegedly took place during Boston’s series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field from May 22-24, 2018.
‘Our strength coach at the time was like, “Dude, I got to tell [then-team president Dave Dombrowski],”‘ he continued. ‘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.’
On May 25, one day after their last outing against the Rays, the Red Sox designated first baseman Hanley Ramirez for assignment. There were no other players designated for assignment in the months April through June.
Boston’s tally of 108 victories that season set a new franchise record for wins in a season, surpassing the previous high of 105 set back in 1912.
They also won the most games by any MLB team since the 2001 Seattle Mariners won 116 while storming to their fourth World Series championship of the decade.
