Former Red Sox Player Accused of Threatening Teammates Before Game

Brock Holt claims unnamed teammate joked about bringing a gun to the field and killing the team.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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In a recent podcast interview, former Boston Red Sox player Brock Holt alleged that one of his teammates from the 2018 season jokingly threatened to "bring a gun to the field" and "kill all of you" during a team stretching session in Tampa. Holt said the team's strength coach reported the incident to management, and the unnamed player was cut from the team the next day.

Why it matters

The 2018 Red Sox were one of the greatest teams in franchise history, so any behind-the-scenes drama or player misconduct would be highly newsworthy. Holt's allegations, if true, raise serious concerns about player safety and the team's handling of the situation, especially given the sensitive nature of gun violence in sports.

The details

According to Holt, the incident occurred during a team stretching session in Tampa in 2018. He said one of his teammates "looked around at all of us and says, 'You know what? I'm going to bring a gun to the field tomorrow and kill all of you.' And then he looks straight at me and says, 'And you're gonna be first.'" Holt said the team's strength coach reported the threat to management, and the player was cut the next day.

  • The incident occurred during a team stretching session in Tampa in 2018.
  • The unnamed player was cut from the Red Sox the day after the alleged threat.

The players

Brock Holt

A former player for the Boston Red Sox who played on the team's 2018 World Series championship squad.

Unnamed Red Sox Player

A Red Sox player in 2018 who allegedly threatened to bring a gun to the field and kill his teammates, according to Brock Holt.

Dave Dombrowski

The team president of the Boston Red Sox in 2018 who was informed of the alleged threat and reportedly cut the player the next day.

Andy Barkett

The assistant hitting coach for the Boston Red Sox in 2018 who confirmed Brock Holt's allegations on social media.

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What they’re saying

“We were in Tampa, and we were in a circle stretching and having a good ol' time. And this someone looks around at all of us and says, 'You know what? I'm going to bring a gun to the field tomorrow and kill all of you.' And then he looks straight at me and says, 'And you're gonna be first.'”

— Brock Holt, Former Red Sox Player (Podcast)

“Dude, I got to tell [then-team president Dave Dombrowski].”

— Boston Red Sox Strength Coach (Podcast)

“We don't have a lot of time, let's get him out of here.”

— Brock Holt, Former Red Sox Player (Podcast)

What’s next

The Red Sox have not commented publicly on Holt's allegations or the identity of the player involved. It remains to be seen if the team will address the incident further.

The takeaway

Holt's claims, if true, highlight the need for professional sports teams to have robust policies and procedures in place to address player misconduct, especially when it involves threats of violence. This incident raises questions about the Red Sox's handling of the situation and whether more could have been done to ensure player safety.