Brock Holt, a free agent, still doesn’t have a team to play for this season, and according to multiple reports out of Boston Red Sox spring training, his former team just gave away his jersey number.
The Red Sox have assigned No. 12 to newly acquired outfielder Alex Verdugo, further hinting Holt won’t be returning to Boston for the 2020 campaign.
Here’s the full list of jersey numbers for the newest members of the Red Sox, including Jeter Downs, who, like Verdugo, joined Boston on Monday in the trade that sent Mookie Betts and David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Big news from the Red Sox clubhouse: Alex Verdugo has been given No. 12, previously worn by Brock Holt.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) February 12, 2020
Other numbers:
Dalbec 29
Downs 20
Plawecki 25
Peraza 3
Perez 54
Wong 30
Osich 35 https://t.co/HbjqqcHtb7— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) February 12, 2020
A fan favorite throughout his seven-year career with the Red Sox, Holt was a valuable component to the roster, filling in wherever needed, especially over the past two seasons with second baseman Dustin Pedroia sidelined with a knee injury.
Holt’s versatility allowed him to start multiple games at every position with the exception of pitcher and catcher. In the 2019 season, he slashed a batting average of .297, an on-base percentage of .369 and a slugging percentage of .402.
Holt’s desire to stay in Boston is no secret, as he told WEEI’s Rob Bradford that he’d “love to play here forever” during spring training last year. Of course, that was fresh off a World Series season when the organization was in a much different state, but it seems like Holt would wear any number if it meant putting a Red Sox jersey back on.
