Boston Red Sox: Brock Holt Likely To Move Back To Utility

Coming off a concussion and a prolonged slump, the Boston Red Sox ponder what role 2015 All Star Brock Holt should have.

The Boston Red Sox are looking to return Brock Holt back to the super utility role that made him an all-star.

On the seven-day disabled list for a concussion received diving for a ball against the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park, the Sox replaced him in left field with a platoon of Blake Swihart and Chris Young.

When Spring Training began, Holt was likely to be a super sub for the third straight year. He made a name for himself at Fenway Park for getting the big hit and playing every position except pitcher and catcher. Down in Fort Myers, Holt outplayed Rusney Castillo for the starting left field job and Castillo now toils the outfield for Triple-A Pawtucket.

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Before the injury, Holt’s production fell from his numbers from 2015. With a slash line of .239/.310/.354 in 2016 compared to a .280/.349/.379 last year, you can see Holt is slumping.

Swihart, playing against right-handed pitchers, is faring worse in left than Holt. His slash line of .174/.240/.174 or 4-for-23 is worse by a mile but, after losing his starting catcher’s job to Christian Vasquez, the Red Sox are training him to be an outfielder.

Holt’s health is an issue. Due to come off the disabled list on the 27th, he has only hit off a batting tee and not taken any fielding practice. When he returns is still undetermined. Jen McCaffrey of MassLive.com speculates Holt may do a rehab stint in the minors before returning to the big club.  Unable to take groundballs before Monday’s win against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, Holt will not likely return full time for the immediate future when he is cleared.

With 2/3rds of the season left, and with Boston trying to give Swihart as much playing time as they can, having Holt spell veterans such as Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez and Travis Shaw in the infield is a good idea. David Ortiz, for the monster year he is having at the plate, is taking more time off at 40 than in years past. Pablo Sandoval is gone for the year after shoulder surgery and Young is a strict platoon in left. A player of Holt’s ability to fill in any place asked will help the Sox as we reach the meat of the season.

Boston, by now, must have zero confidence Castillo can hit major league pitching, or else he would be on the roster instead of the struggling Swihart. Although, at least for now, allowing Holt to fill in or spot start is in his best interest, the team cannot afford to go into the pennant drive with a corner outfield position with hitters unable to break .200 no matter how supercharged the offense is.

Holt fills a role vital down the stretch, a basketball sixth man for baseball if you will. If Swihart and Castillo down I-95 cannot hit, however, Holt likely returns to left unless there is a trade.

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Brock Holt is likely to return to his super utility ways, something the first place Red Sox are needing now to bolster a couple positions.