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.
Here’s a look at how our players did in games through Sunday, July 20:
John Holobetz (Pottsville Area) – Pitcher, Greenville Drive (Red Sox High A)
Holobetz did not make a start over the weekend for the Drive.
For the season so far, Holobetz is 6-2 with a 3.20 ERA across all levels of competition. He’s struck out 85 batters and walked just 13 this season.
Travis Blankenhorn (Pottsville Area) – OF/DH, Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels Double A)
Blankenhorn went 1-for-10 with a home run, his ninth of the season, in a weekend series against the Columbus Clingstones (Braves).
Kaleb Sophy (Blue Mountain) – Pitcher, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox A)
Sophy (1-2) notched his first Quality Start and win of his pro career on Sunday in a game against the Columbia Fireflies (Royals).
He worked 6 innings, allowing 2 runs while scattering 6 hits for the victory. He struck out 2 and walked 1.
Nate Nabholz (Blue Mountain) – Pitcher, Tri-City Valleycats (Frontier League)
Nabholz worked 1.1 innings of relief – his ninth appearance since signing with the Valleycats – on Saturday against Trois-Rivieres. He alllowed 1 run on 2 hits, recording 1 strikeout.
Joe Nahas (Marian Catholic) – Pitcher, Washington Wild Things, Frontier League
After being released by the Cubs organization, Nahas signed a deal to play for the Wild Things last Thursday. He’s already appeared in 2 games, working 2.1 innings, allowing 1 run on 1 hit.
Mason Ligenza (Tamaqua Area) – Drafted, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Ligenza with the 195th overall pick (6th round) of this year’s MLB Draft. The deadline to sign players selected in the Draft is Monday, July 28.
Jake Houtz (Schuylkill Haven Area) – Utility, Free Agent
Houtz made 2 appearances for the Wild Things, going 1-for-5 at the plate,with a run scored.
On July 17, Houtz was released by the Wild Things.
Thomas Schultz (Mount Carmel Area) – Pitcher, Harrisburg Senators (Nationals Double A)
Schultz worked 2 innings in an appearance on Saturday against the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants). He allowed just 1 hit and struck out 1.
He lowered his season ERA to 2.39 and in July, he’s allowed only 3 hits and 1 run over 8 innings (1.13 ERA).
Tom Reisinger (Mount Carmel Area) – Pitcher, Lansing Lugnuts (Athletics High A)
Reisinger got roughed up a bit in a relief appearance over the weekend against the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers).
He allowed 3 runs on 5 hits over 2 innings in a 15-4 loss for the Lugnuts.
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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