The 2018 Boston Red Sox will forever be remembered as one of the most dominant teams in Major League Baseball history. A franchise-record 108 wins. A World Series championship. A postseason run defined by resilience, depth, and historic performances, including Brock Holt becoming the first and only player ever to hit for the cycle in a playoff game.
But behind the champagne celebrations and October glory, there was a moment that threatened to derail everything.
A Clubhouse Joke That Wasn’t Funny
In a recent appearance on the “Section 10 Podcast,” former Red Sox utility man Brock Holt pulled back the curtain on a chilling episode from that championship year, an incident so disturbing that it led to a player being swiftly removed from the roster.
Holt described the scene with unsettling clarity. The team was in Tampa Bay in late May, gathered in a circle during pre-batting practice stretches at Tropicana Field. Spirits were light. Teammates were joking, preparing for another game during what would become a historic season.
Then, without warning, one player made a statement that froze the group.
“You know what?” the teammate allegedly said. “I’m going to bring a gun to the field tomorrow and kill all of you.”
The comment alone was jarring. But it didn’t stop there.
According to Holt, the player then locked eyes with him and added, “And you’re gonna be first.”
Holt’s reaction was immediate and serious. Even if intended as a joke, he made it clear the line had been crossed. In a professional clubhouse environment, particularly in an era acutely aware of public safety concerns, such remarks were impossible to brush aside.
Swift Action Behind the Scenes
The team’s strength coach reportedly escalated the situation to then-team president Dave Dombrowski. Holt himself emphasized urgency. “We don’t have a lot of time,” he recalled thinking. “Let’s get him out of here.”
The timeline is striking. The Red Sox concluded their series against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 24, 2018. The following day, first baseman Hanley Ramirez was designated for assignment. Notably, no other players were assigned between April and June of that season.
Holt did not explicitly name the teammate involved in the threat. However, the proximity of the roster move has fueled speculation among fans familiar with the team’s transaction history. What remains clear is that leadership responded quickly to preserve stability inside the clubhouse.
In a season built on chemistry and cohesion, there was little room for uncertainty, and even less for statements that could fracture trust among teammates.
A Championship Red Sox Season With Hidden Turbulence
The 2018 Red Sox were not just talented, they were unified. Manager Alex Cora’s clubhouse culture was widely praised for its accountability and collective focus. That foundation proved critical as Boston surged through the regular season and into October.
They finished with 108 victories, surpassing the franchise’s previous record of 105 set in 1912. At the time, it marked the most wins by any MLB team since the 2001 Seattle Mariners’ historic 116-win campaign. Boston carried that momentum into the postseason, ultimately capturing another World Series title and cementing their place among baseball’s modern dynasties.
History remembers the victories, the records, and the parade through Boston’s streets.
Yet as Holt’s recollection makes clear, even legendary seasons carry moments of tension that never make the highlight reels. Behind the scenes, decisive leadership and swift action ensured that one shocking clubhouse outburst did not overshadow what became one of the greatest seasons the sport has ever seen.
