Former Boston Red Sox All Star Brock Holt announces retirement

The end has come for former Boston Red Sox utility man Brock Holt.

Holt announced his retirement Thursday on Instagram, saying that he had “one hell of a ride” during his decade in the majors. He certainly accomplished more than one may have expected.

Brock Holt leaves behind strong legacy with Boston Red Sox

Originally a ninth round selection by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2009 MLB Draft, he was traded to the Red Sox on December 26, 2012 as part of the return for Mark Melancon. While it took another year before he established himself in the majors, Holt eventually became a solid piece in Boston.

He became a super utility man in Boston, showing some doubles power and a bit of speed as he played everywhere but pitcher and catcher. Holt earned some Rookie of the Year votes that season, then was named to the All Star Game in 2015. While he never earned another All Star berth, he was a solid piece on their roster and a key part of the World Series winning team in 2018.

However, he did not have that same success outside of Boston. Holt struggled to find a team for 2020 despite a pair of strong seasons before free agency, signing with the Brewers before the pandemic shut everything down. He bounced from Milwaukee to the Nationals to the Rangers before signing with the Braves in the middle of spring training. Ultimately, he was released 11 days later, failing to latch on with another team for 2022.

Holt had a solid overall career. He posted a .262/.332/.362 batting line in his 2661 major league plate appearances, hitting 25 homers and 127 doubles while stealing 41 bases. Holt even appeared on the mound twice, setting the record for the slowest pitch to be called a strike. His 50 MPH difference between his fastball and eephus would have made him an interesting option if teams used him on the mound more often.

Former Boston Red Sox All Star Brock Holt has retired after spending parts of a decade in the majors. We wish him well in his future endeavors.