Red Sox’s 2018 World Series Win Marred by Clubhouse Incident
The Red Sox clinched the 2018 World Series, but not without some serious internal drama.
Brock Holt, a standout player during the postseason and a familiar face in Boston, shared a startling story from that season. He recounted how a teammate allegedly brought a gun to the field and ominously threatened to “kill” the entire team.
During a recent episode of the Section 10 Podcast, Holt discussed this and also reflected on Rafael Devers’ recent departure from the team, which eventually led to a deeper conversation about the dynamics within the clubhouse.
Holt explained that there were one or two players who created tension in 2018, but the team managed to move on from them. He specifically recalled a moment in Tampa while the team was stretching—everything seemed fine until someone joked about bringing a gun the next day. The individual even pointed at Holt, saying he’d be the first victim. It sounded outrageous, perhaps a bad joke—but it still raised eyebrows.
Holt mentioned that the team’s strength coach took the comments seriously enough to inform upper management. He humorously noted, “I’m going to go first, so please go ahead,” when they discussed addressing the situation with the then-team president, Dave Dombrowski.
Andy Burkett, the assistant hitting coach for the Red Sox in 2018, appeared to back up Holt’s story on social media, calling it a “true story.”
Despite this unsettling incident, the Red Sox thrived on the field, ending the regular season with an impressive 108 wins. They went on to defeat the Yankees, Astros, and Dodgers to secure their ninth championship title.
Holt himself had a notable season, ending with a .277 batting average, seven home runs, and 46 RBIs over 109 games. He made history as the first player in MLB to hit for the cycle in the playoffs during Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees. Holt eventually retired from baseball in 2022, wrapping up a decade-long career that included stints with the Pirates, Red Sox, Brewers, Nationals, and Rangers.
