Here is our weekly roundup of Schuylkill County and other coal region players currently with Major League Baseball organizations in the 2024 season.
Travis Blankenhorn (Pottsville Area) – Outfield, Rochester Red Wings
Blankenhorn went into the mid-season break on a power surge and it hasn’t cooled off since.
He has been on an absolute tear since the mid-season break. Last week, in a series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Phillies), the Pottsville native smashed 5 home runs during the 6-game series.
Included in that was a 2-home run game on July 26, when he went 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in 5 runs.
Blankenhorn has homered in three consecutive games coming into this week’s series against the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals).
His 24 home runs are a single-season career best. And he’s now just 3 home runs shy of the International League and Triple-A lead in that category. Blankenhorn’s 69 RBI leads the International League.
Joe Nahas (Marian Catholic) – Pitcher, Tennessee Smokies
Nahas picked up his second win of the season for the Smokies in a 7-1 victory over the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels) on July 21.
He worked the 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings in relief that day, allowing just 1 hit while striking out 4 and walking 1.
During a 1-inning relief appearance on Saturday, Nahas didn’t allow a hit in a game against the Birmingham Barons (White Sox). He struck out 1 and walked 1.
He now 2-1 with the Smokies and he’s lowered his ERA to 4.64.
Reggie Crawford (North Schuylkill) – Pitcher, Sacramento River Cats
Crawford is still on the injured list for the River Cats. He hasn’t pitched since a June 5 outing. Baseball America is reporting that he was sidelined with left arm fatigue.
Thomas Schultz (Mount Carmel Area) – Pitcher, Wilmington Blue Rocks
Schultz has appeared in 2 games since the mid-season break.
On July 19, he worked a scoreless inning of relief against the Aberdeen IronBirds (Orioles), allowing 1 hit while striking out 2 and walking 1.
In a one-inning appearance on July 25 against the Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees), he allowed 1 hit and struck out 1.
Schultz’ ERA since his promotion the Blue Rocks this season is now 3.95.
Tom Reisinger (Mount Carmel Area) – Pitcher, Stockton Ports
Reisinger had some recent outings he’d like to put behind him as soon as possible.
On July 21, he allowed 4 runs on 7 hits over 2.2 innings in his first start since April. He struck out 4 and walked 1 in that game, a 13-2 loss to the Modesto Nuts (Mariners).
In a relief appearance on Saturday, Reisinger allowed 4 earned runs on 5 hits over 2 innings. He struck out 3 and walked 1 in that game, a 10-5 loss to the Fresno Grizzlies (Rockies).
Kaleb Sophy (Blue Mountain) – Pitcher, Glacier Range Riders
Sophy had an impressive start back on July 18 against the Missoula Paddleheads but got a no-decision.
In that outing, he allowed just 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 8 and walking 3. The Paddleheads scored 6 runs over the last 3 innings en route to a 7-2 win over his Range Riders.
In a start on July 26, he took his third loss of the season in a start against the Boise Hawks.
Sophy worked 3.1 innnings, allowing 5 earned runs on 6 hits while striking out 1 and walking 2.
His Range Riders are currently mired in a 7-game losing streak.
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LET US KNOW: Someone missing from this roundup who plays for a Minor League team or MLB-affiliated league with ties to the coal region? Send us an email (newscanary@gmail.com) with their name, team, and their connection to the area and we’ll add them to future roundups.
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