Lincoln Holdzkom

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name = Lincoln Holdzkom
team = Boston Red Sox
number = --
position = Pitcher
birthdate = birth date and age|1982|3|23
birthplace = city-state|Pasadena|California
bats = Right
throws = Right
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Lincoln H. Holdzkom (born March 23, 1982 in city-state|Pasadena|California) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox organization. Holdzkom graduated from Cibola High School in Yuma, Arizona, and attended Arizona Western College.

Professional career

Holdzkom was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 7th round (212th overall) of the by|2001 Major League Baseball draft. Holdzkom began his career with the Rookie League Gulf Coast Marlins in 2001. Making 7 starts and 5 relief appearances, he went 1-3 with a 2.49 ERA.

Holdzkom pitched for the Single-A Kane County Cougars in by|2002. He made 30 relief appearances and went 1-5 with a 2.53 ERA and led the team with 11 saves.

In by|2003, Holdzkom split the season between the Single-A Greensboro Bats and the Advanced Single-A Jupiter Hammerheads. In a combined 56 relief appearances, he went 1-6 with a 2.92 ERA. Holdzkom would miss the entire by|2004 season after Tommy John surgery.

In by|2005, Holdzkom played for the Gulf Coast Marlins and the Hammerheads again. In 12 relief appearances, Holdzkom went 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA.

On March 28, by|2006, Holdzkom was traded to the Chicago Cubs along with Zach McCormack for Todd Wellemeyer. Holdzkom pitched at three different levels for the Cubs in 2006, the Rookie League AZL Cubs, the Advanced Single-A Daytona Cubs, and the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. In a combined 25 games, Holdzkom went 0-1 with a 1.76 ERA.

On December 7, 2006, Holdzkom was selected by the Houston Astros in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft. He did not make the team and was returned to the Cubs on March 11, 2007.

On April 20, by|2007, Holdzkom signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox and was assigned to the Portland Sea Dogs, the Red Sox Double-A affliate. It was with the Sea Dogs that he got his first win since 2003 and overall with the Sea Dogs, he went 4-1 with a 3.47 ERA in 30 relief appearances. Holdzkom also played at the Triple-A level for the Pawtucket Red Sox. With Pawtucket, he made 12 relief appearances and went 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA.

On December 6, 2007, Holdzkom was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft. Holdzkom appeared in only 3 Grapefruit League games for the Phillies, and was then offered back to the Red Sox on March 12, 2008. When the Red Sox declined, he was released making him a free agent. [cite web
url=http://phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080312&content_id=2421492&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi |date=2008-03-12 | title=Holdzkom hits free-agent market: Right-hander could return to Phils on Minor League deal | publisher=MLB.com |author=Ken Mandel |accessdate=2008-03-13] On March 13, Holdzkom was signed by the Red Sox and placed on the team's 40-man roster replacing pitcher Curt Schilling who was placed on the 60-day disabled list. [cite web
url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2008/03/schilling_goes_1.html |date=2008-03-13 | title=Schilling goes to 60-day DL | publisher=Boston Globe |author=Nick Cafardo |accessdate=2008-03-13] On March 17th, he was optioned to the Pawtucket Red Sox. [cite web
url=http://www.courant.com/sports/baseball/redsox/hc-soxnotes0318.artmar18,0,2434362.story |date=2008-03-18 | title=Matsuzaka, Lester To Start For Red Sox Against A's In Japan | publisher=The Hartford Courant |author=Jeff Goldberg |accessdate=2008-03-28]

The Red Sox designated Holdzkom for assignment on August 13, by|2008 to make room for Marcus McBeth who they had claimed off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds. While at Pawtucket, Holdzkom appeared in 33 games with a Win-Loss record of 5-5 and a 5.24 Earned run average. On August 21, 2008, he was outrighted to Pawtucket. [cite web
url=http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080814/SPORTS/808140397 |date=2008-08-14 | title=Transactions: BASEBALL American League | publisher=The Journal Gazette |author= |accessdate=2008-08-14]

Lincoln has considered growing a beard but is unsure if women will find this attractive please send him fan mail with your opinion.

Background legend

Holdzkom has had to refute a persistent rumor about his background that he says originated as a joke he and his brother thought up.cite web
url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/4565267.html | title=Heeeeeeere's Holdzkom: He didn't really meet Johnny Carson, but Astros prospect has yet to allow homer in minors | publisher=Houston Chronicle |date=2007-02-20 |author=Brian McTaggart |accessdate=2008-03-25] cite web
url=http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1016379 | title=Pitcher’s success no tall tale: PawSox’ Holdzkom on the rise | publisher=Boston Herald |date=2007-08-10 |author=Maureen Mullen |accessdate=2008-03-25] The rumor alleges that Holdzkom is son of Christopher Holdzkom, an Austrian pianist who trained him to perform on the piano which led Lincoln to a 1988 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and a contribution to a song on the soundtrack of the movie "Forrest Gump". The rumor gained so much traction that it was referenced in an article by MLB.com reporter Alyson Footer. [cite web
url=http://www.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061207&content_id=1753761&vkey=hotstove2006&fext=.jsp |date=2006-12-07 | title=Astros grab Holdzkom in Rule 5 Draft: Reliever must stick on '07 big-league roster or be offered back | publisher=MLB.com |author=Alyson Footer |accessdate=2008-03-17]

References

External links

* [http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=22010 Baseball reference] minor league statistics
* [http://www.soxprospects.com/players/holdzkom-lincoln.htm Red Sox] Prospects