Here is our regular roundup of Schuylkill County and other coal region players currently with Major League Baseball organizations or playing in an MLB Partner League in the 2025 season.
Let’s have a look at how our local players in the pros are doing so far in August:
John Holobetz (Pottsville Area) – Pitcher, Greenville Drive (Red Sox High A)
Since our last update, Holobetz has made two starts for the Drive, picking up his first loss as a pro on May 21 in a game against the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays).
In that game, a 3-1 loss, Holobetz worked 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits while striking out 4 and walking 2.
He did not factor in the decision in a May 31 start against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies). He went 4.1 innings, allowing 6 hits and 3 runs, striking out 5 and walking 1.
For the season, Holobetz is 4-1 with a 3.45 ERA. He’s got 47 strikeouts in 44.1 innings pitched.
Kaleb Sophy (Blue Mountain) – Pitcher, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox A)
Sophy made two starts in the last two weeks, taking Sunday duties for the Cannon Ballers.
Against the Charleston RiverDogs (Rays) on Sunday, Sophy fanned 5 batters and walked none over 5 innings pitched. He scattered 6 hits and gave up 1 run.
On May 25, he worked 4.1 innings, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits while walking 3 against the Columbia Fireflies (Royals).
Since joining the Cannon Ballers, Sophy has thrown 15.1 innings, making 4 appearances (3 starts). He’s struck out 7 batters and has a 1.76 ERA.
Thomas Schultz (Mount Carmel Area) – Pitcher, Harrisburg Senators (Nationals Double A)
Schultz appeared in three games out of the Senators bullpen in the last two weeks.
In those appearances, he’s gone 2.2 innings, allowing 1 hit and 2 unearned runs, striking out 3 and walking 4.
Since being promoted to Double A Harrisburg, Schultz has allowed just 4 hits over 6.2 innings of work.
He’s 1-1 for the season across all levels with a 2.70 ERA.
Joe Nahas (Marian Catholic) – Pitcher, South Bend Cubs (Cubs High A)
Nahas has made three relief appearances for the Cubs in the last two weeks.
In that time, he’s worked 4.1 innings, allowing just 3 hits and 1 unearned run while striking out 2 and walking 2.
He’s worked his ERA on the season down to 5.27 and hasn’t allowed an earned run since May 13 (5 appearances).
Travis Blankenhorn (Pottsville Area) – OF/DH, Arizona Complex League Angels (Rehab assignment)
On Monday, the Angels sent Blankenhorn on a rehab assignment to their Arizona Complex League.
He got his first at-bats on Monday in a game against the Giants team in that league.
Blankenhorn went 0-2 with a strikeout. It was his first appearance in a game at any level since April 29.
Tom Reisinger (Mount Carmel Area) – Pitcher, Lansing Lugnuts (Athletics High A)
Reisinger made three relief appearances for the Lugnuts in the last two weeks.
He’s worked 3 innings in that time, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits while striking out 2 and walking 2.
Reisinger is 2-0 this season with 13 relief outings under his belt. He’s struck out 17 batters over 19 innings and sports a 4.74 ERA.
Reggie Crawford (North Schuylkill) – Pitcher, San Francisco Giants organization
Crawford is likely to miss the entire 2025 season after undergoing surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder back in September.
The procedure has a 10-12 month rehab period.
Brandon Schaeffer (Schuylkill Haven Area) – Pitcher, Everett AquaSox (Mariners High A)
Schaeffer was placed on the 60-day injured list by the AquaSox on March 18.
He has yet to make an appearance for the team in the 2025 season.
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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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