DIAMOND BAR, Calif. – Former Philadelphia Phillies Rule 5 prospect, right-hander Lincoln Holdzkom, has passed away at the age of 33 after being involved in a California car accident Sunday morning, according to Stuff.co.nz.
Holdzkom was a 2012 participant of the World Baseball Classic as a member of the New Zealand Diamondblacks. He was also the older brother of Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher John Holdzkom.
BaseballNewZealand.com writes:
Lincoln Holdzkom was an integral part of the 2012 Diamondblacks team that came within a game of qualifying for the main draw and figured to be a big part again in February’s challenge in Australia. . . .
He was so determined to be part of the 2012 Diamondblacks World Baseball Classic team for New Zealand, Lincoln gave up his job to travel, train and play with the Diamondblacks in New Zealand, Australia and Taiwan. Due to his talent and competitiveness, he quickly became the leading pitcher on the Diamondblacks roster, and figured to be the captain of the pitching staff in February’s WBC qualifier in Sydney and someone Diamondblacks manager Chris Woodward and the coaching staff would have leaned on for experience and leadership. Woodward called Lincoln Holdzkom the ‘heart and soul’ of the team’s pitching staff.
Holdzkom was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the seventh round of the 2001 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Arizona Western College—the same college that produced 13-year veteran catcher Bengie Molina and three-time World Series champion left-hander Sergio Romo.
After missing the entire 2004 season due to Tommy John surgery, Holdzkom returned in 2005 with a combined 4.72 ERA in 12 appearances with the Marlins' rookie and Single-A teams, the GCL Marlins and Jupiter Hammerheads, respectively.
On March 28, 2006, Holdzkom was dealt to the Chicago Cubs in a three-player transaction that sent right-hander Todd Wellemeyer to the Marlins. That season, Holdzkom advanced his way to the Double-A level, where he struck out 27 batters in 32 1/3 innings and 18 appearances.
Holdzkom joined the Red Sox for the 2007 season on a minor-league deal, where he combined to throw a 2.97 ERA and a 1.539 WHIP ratio over 42 appearances at the Double-A and Triple-A levels.
With the final selection of the 2007 Rule 5 draft, Holdzkom was plucked by the Phillies from the Pawtucket Red Sox. The right-hander threw in just three Grapefruit League games as a Phillie, where he allowed one earned run on three hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings.
Because the Red Sox refused to take back Holdzkom, he was made a free agent, according to MLB.com. A day later on March 13, 2008, however, he was re-signed by Boston and added to their 40-man roster after Curt Schilling was placed on the 60-day disabled list, according to the Boston Globe.
Holdzkom would go on to throw for the Red Sox at the Triple-A level and the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Double-A level in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Following his World Baseball Classic appearance, Holdzkom failed at a comeback attempt in professional baseball with the independent Wichita Wingnuts in 2013.
Although he never made it to the Major Leagues, Holdzkom found a mainstay in four different minor-league systems over eight seasons. He went a combined 16-25 with a 2.96 ERA and an 8.8 SO/9 ratio in 227 total appearances.
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
