Coal Region Pro Baseball: All-Star Break Update

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 as we reach the All-Star break in the season:

John Holobetz (Pottsville Area) – Pitcher, Greenville Drive (Red Sox High A)

Holobetz started Friday for the Drive in a game against the Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox). He worked 4 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits while striking out 5 and walking none. He did not factor in the decision.

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)

In a series this week against the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), Blankenhorn went 4-for-21 at the plate with a double and 2 RBI. He showed incredible patience this week, drawing 7 walks, including 3 in a game on Saturday night.

The 2025 season got off to a slow start for Blankenhorn but he’s come on strong as of late, since completing a rehab stint with the Angels Arizona Complex League team in June. He’s hitting .221 with 8 home runs and 26 RBI.

Kaleb Sophy (Blue Mountain) – Pitcher, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox A)

Sophy did not factor in the decision during his start on Sunday against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs). He worked 4.1 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits while striking out 2 and walking 3 batters. 

Since signing a contract with the White Sox in mid-May, he’s made 10 appearances and 9 starts on the mound. He’s posted an 0-2 record (4.54 ERA) with 24 Ks over 37.2 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting just .259 off him since joining Kannapolis.

Nate Nabholz (Blue Mountain) – Pitcher, Tri-City Valleycats (Frontier League)

Nabholz made 2 more appearances in the last week for Tri-City. He worked 4 innings, allowing 0 runs on 3 hits while striking out 3 and walking none.

Since joining the Frontier League, the Blue Mountain grad has made 6 relief appearances and posted a 0.82 ERA.

Joe Nahas (Marian Catholic) – Pitcher, Free Agent

For the 2025 season, Nahas was 1-2 with a 6.27 ERA at High-A South Bend (Cubs). He had 12 Ks and 4 BBs over 18.2 innings pitched.

Nahas was released by South Bend on June 22.

Thomas Schultz (Mount Carmel Area) – Pitcher, Harrisburg Senators (Nationals Double A)

In a relief appearance for the Senators on July 8 against the Erie SeaWolves (Tigers), Schultz worked a hitless, scoreless inning, striking out 1 batter.

So far this year, Schultz is 1-1 with 3.77 ERA across all levels of play. He’s recorded 45 Ks over 43 innings of work. Schultz has notched 2 saves in 2025. Opponents are hitting just .167 off him.

Tom Reisinger (Mount Carmel Area) – Pitcher, Lansing Lugnuts (Athletics High A)

On July 10, Reisinger worked 1.2 innings in relief against the Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers) to pick up his fourth win of the season. He allowed 1 hit, struck out 1 and walked 1.

Over the course of 2025, Reisinger has posted a 4-0 record with a 4.78 ERA. He’s made 21 relief appearances, working 32 innings. He’s struck out 25.

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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