Holt thankful for recovery ‘team’
Brock Holt wasn’t alone as he made his long rehab from vertigo. In fact, his recovery was very much aided by some high-profile names who knew what he was going through.
The Red Sox utility man had a close support system in the way of family and friends, but that only went so far in his long, and at times scary, return. The likes of David Ross, former Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts and even NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., were instrumental in a process that began in late April when Holt first suffered a concussion, up until yesterday, when he finally returned to the Sox.
“You can talk to your training staff, your teammates, my family even, and you can explain how you feel but no one really knows,” Holt said. “It was nice to talk to those guys who have been through it and know exactly what I was talking about. Didn’t really have to explain it.
“So, I think that helped me out a lot, too, knowing that those guys went through it and are better and did the rehab that I did and got better from it and they’re living normal lives now.”
Ross, the former Sox catcher, was a constant voice in Holt’s ear. Ross, who suffered concussions with the Red Sox in 2013 before returning to play a key role in the World Series, checked in with Holt over the phone multiple times and in person.
It was Micky Collins, a sports concussion expert who has worked with many athletes — including Roberts — who have dealt with concussions and their resultant symptoms, who might have been the biggest help of all. There was a time when Holt was in a dark place, and feared the worst for his career.
Collins, who is based in Pittsburgh and whom Holt described as “the best in the world,” helped Holt through that troubling time. Holt credited Collins with the idea to get out and start playing again.
“That first time I tried to rehab, I think I played two weeks’ worth of games and never felt good in any of them. You start thinking,” Holt said. “When you’re down there trying to compete and play and you’re not able to do it, I think there were times when I wondered if I would ever get back to normal or if that was my new normal.
“But, I would say I had to get talked off the ledge a couple of times from Micky in Pittsburgh and my wife (Lakyn). They set me back on the straightened path, but it was hard, man.”
After nearly three months of rehab, which included stints between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket and some serious setbacks, Holt made his welcomed return yesterday when he pinchhit in the seventh inning of the Red Sox’ 3-0 loss to the Yankees. He was given a big ovation before reaching on an infield single.
Holt is healthy again, back where he belongs, and he has plenty of people to thank for it.
“Emotionally, physically, something that obviously I would have rather not had to go through,” Holt said. “But, like I said, it’s going to make me stronger and I’m glad to be back.”