When Brock Holt was called into the offices of the Braves decision-makers at the end of spring training, a question was posed to him.
Would the 33-year-old be willing to start the season in the minors?
Holt, who had signed a minor-league deal with Atlanta, wasn't going to be making the major league roster, immediately presenting the former Red Sox with an unfamiliar decision.
"It was a little strange at first after they told me I wasn’t making the team with the Braves," Holt told WEEI.com. "They asked me if I wanted to go to Triple-A. I said, ‘No, thank you. No, I do not.’ They said, ‘OK, we’ll just release you. You’ve played well so maybe another team will pick you up.’ Sounded good. So I went back to the hotel, packed up my stuff and drove back up here and I’ve been home ever since. It’s strange watching the games, knowing I can still play and feeling like I can still help the team. But it’s also really nice being home."
For Holt, the entire last month has been an experience unlike anything he has gone through. For the first time in his adult life, he isn't playing baseball, remaining a free agent after a spring training that saw him get just nine plate appearances, notching three hits and a walk.
His life now? "Just hanging out, man. Playing dad. Going to Griff’s baseball games. Doing swimming lessons with the boys. Picking weeds in the yards. Normal living."
But, as much joy as his current existence near Nashville has brought him in the short-term, the feeling of unfinished business still lingers.
It was just four seasons ago that Holt entrenched himself as a cult hero in among Red Sox fans with his postseason performances. And while there have been some ups and downs throughout the past two seasons with three different teams, the work he put in during this past offseason seemed to being paying dividends during his Braves' tenure.
Unfortunately for Holt, Atlanta had other ideas.
"I was a little surprised," he said of the release. "I felt like I should have made that team. They ended up taking three catchers out of camp, which is strange. Then they ended up optioning the one that they took like five days into the season. They took one backup infielder. It was kind of an odd way to structure your roster, but that’s the way they decided to go. It is what it is. They were good with me. They just called me in and said, ‘Hey man, you aren’t going to make the team, what do you want to do?’ They gave me the option. I was never going to go to Triple-A. Looking at the roster before I signed I thought it looked promising if I went down and played well, which I did. But I think I got like nine plate appearances. A very small sample size. I felt good. I was playing well. It was tough. I was one of the backup guys, coming in in the sixth inning, which isn’t easy in spring training games.
"It is what it is. It didn’t work out there. I’m happy where I’m at right now, being at home and getting to spend as much time as I have been with the family."
The joy of Holt's current existence - hanging with his wife, Lakyn, and two young boys, Griff and Rippken - is easy to uncover with a quick trip the infielder's Instagram account.
That, however, doesn't mean Holt has completely turned the page when it comes to life as a professional baseball player.
"Honestly, I have no idea, to be 100 percent honest. I don’t know what is going to happen. If anything is going to happen," he said. "The only thing I do know is that I’m having a blast right now at home. Man, I’m getting to do a lot of things with the boys I don’t normally get to do this time of year. I’m getting to see them. I’m getting to take Griff to school. I’m getting in the pool with Rippken for his swim lessons. I’m giving Rippken a bath every night. Having dinner with the family. There are a lot worse places I can be than where I’m at right now. I have no idea with what the future holds with the whole baseball thing. We’ll play it by ear. But I’m in a good spot right now.
"I will tell you I’m watching some games and I’m looking at rosters and I get a little upset at times knowing I should be on a big-league roster somewhere with someone. But the more days I’m at home with my family and getting to do the dad thing and the husband thing 24-7, the more days I’m at home doing those things I kind of ask myself, ‘Man, why did I play baseball so long? This is awesome.’ We’ll see what happens and either way, if I play baseball again or I don’t play baseball again, I’ll be just fine."
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