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.
This is how our players did in games over the last two weeks through Sunday, Aug. 10:
John Holobetz (Pottsville Area) – Pitcher, Greenville Drive (Red Sox High A)
On Aug. 6, Holobetz was promoted to Double-A Portland Sea Dogs in the Eastern League.
The following night, he made his Double-A debut in a game against the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals). He worked 6 innings, allowed 4 runs on 7 hits and did not factor in the decision. Holobetz struck out 4 and walked none in that game, a 5-4 Senators win.
In his final start at the High A level on July 30, Holobetz worked 5.1 innings, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits while striking out 3 and walking 2 to earn the win over the Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox).
So far this season, Holobetz has been traded from the Brewers organization to the Red Sox and been promoted twice. He’s got an overall 7-2 record with a 3.48 ERA over 15 starts. He’s struck out 97 batters and walked just 15.
Travis Blankenhorn (Pottsville Area) – OF/DH, Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels Double A)
Blankenhorn went a total of 2-for-29 at the plate over the course of two series against the Birmingham Barons (White Sox) and Columbus Clingstones (Braves).
He is currently hitting .190 for the season with 9 home runs and 27 runs batted in.
Kaleb Sophy (Blue Mountain) – Pitcher, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox A)
Sophy has earned wins in his last two starts for the Cannon Ballers.
He went 4 innings on Aug. 1 against the Delmarva Shorebirds, striking out 2 and walking 6 while allowing 3 earned runs on 5 hits.
On Friday, Sophy righted the ship a bit to earn his third victory of the season in a game against the Salem Red Sox. He threw 5 innings, allowing 3 runs (all in the 2nd inning) on 4 hits while striking out 6 and walking 3.
He’s now 3-2 on the season with a 4.91 ERA.
Nate Nabholz (Blue Mountain) – Pitcher, Tri-City ValleyCats (Frontier League)
Since our last update, Nabholz has made 4 more appearances for the ValleyCats. He’s worked 6.2 innings, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 5 and walking 2 batters.
Joe Nahas (Marian Catholic) – Pitcher, Washington Wild Things (Frontier League)
Nahas made 4 relief appearances since our last update two weeks ago. He’s thrown 6 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits while striking out 5 and walking none. He earned his second save of the season since joining the Wild Things.
Thomas Schultz (Mount Carmel Area) – Pitcher, Harrisburg Senators (Nationals Double A)
Schultz made three appearances this month for the Senators but did not factor in any of the decisions. On Aug. 2 against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Mets), he threw 1.2 innings, giving up 3 runs on 3 hits.
In games against the Portland Sea Dogs on Aug. 5 and Aug. 8, he worked a total of 5 shutout innings, allowing just 1 hit while striking out 6 and walking 2.
Opponents are hitting just .164 off Schultz this season across all levels of competition.
Tom Reisinger (Mount Carmel Area) – Pitcher, Lansing Lugnuts (Athletics High A)
Reisinger went 0-1 over the course of two relief appearances for the Lugnuts recently.
He did not factor in the decision in an appearance against the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins) on July 30. He worked 1.2 innings, allowing just 1 hit while striking out 1 and walking 3.
Reisinger took the loss in an appearance on Aug. 7 against the Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers). He lasted two-thirds of an inning, allowing 2 hits and 1 earned run (4 unearned runs). He’s currently 4-2 on the season with a 5.03 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.
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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