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 27:
John Holobetz (Pottsville Area) – Pitcher, Greenville Drive (Red Sox High A)
Holobetz worked 5.2 innings in a start on July 23 against the Hub City Spartanburgers (Rangers). He allowed 1 run on 7 hits while striking out 5 and walking none. However, he did not factor in the decision..
Travis Blankenhorn (Pottsville Area) – OF/DH, Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels Double A)
Blankenhorn went 4-for-22 with a triple in a series against the Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers) last week.
Kaleb Sophy (Blue Mountain) – Pitcher, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox A)
Sophy worked 2.1 innings, allowing 3 runs on 2 hits with 3 walks in a start against the Carolina Mudcats (Brewers) on July 26.
Nate Nabholz (Blue Mountain) – Pitcher, Tri-City Valleycats (Frontier League)
Nabholz has made 10 relief appearances for the Valleycats this season. He’s worked 17.1 innings, giving up just 3 runs on 13 hits while striking out 17 and walking just 3 batters, for a 1.56 ERA.
Joe Nahas (Marian Catholic) – Pitcher, Washington Wild Things, Frontier League
Nahas has now appeared in 5 games for the Wild Things. He’s 3 runs on 4 hits over 5.2 innings of relief, striking out 8 and walking 2. He’s picked up 1 save in his short time with Washington (PA).
Mason Ligenza (Tamaqua Area) – Drafted, Los Angeles Dodgers
Ligenza announced on X last week that he’s opted to go to college and play for University of Pittsburgh rather than sign with the Dodgers. The Dodgers selected the Tamaqua Area prospect in the sixth round of this year’s MLB Draft.
Thomas Schultz (Mount Carmel Area) – Pitcher, Harrisburg Senators (Nationals Double A)
Schultz made two shutout relief appearances for the Senators in a series last week against the Akron Rubber Ducks (Guardians). He went 1.2 innings on July 23, allowing 1 hit while striking out 3 and walking none.
Schultz (2-1) earned the win in relief for Harrisburg after going 1.1 innings, allowing no hits and striking out 1 and walking 1 on July 26.
Tom Reisinger (Mount Carmel Area) – Pitcher, Lansing Lugnuts (Athletics High A)
Reisinger made two relief appearances last week in a series against the Lake County Captains (Guardians). He allowed 1 run on 1 hit on July 22. In an appearance on July 26, he took the loss (4-1) after working 2 innings, giving up 3 runs on 3 hits while striking out 2.
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.
Jake Houtz (Schuylkill Haven Area) – Utility, Free Agent
Houtz made 2 appearances for the Washington Wild Things, going 1-for-5 at the plate,with a run scored.
On July 17, Houtz was released by the Wild Things.
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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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