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 2026 season.
This is how our players did in games over the last week:
John Holobetz (Pottsville Area) – Pitcher, Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox-AA)
Holobetz could not get any run support in what may have been his best outing as a pro last week. In a game at Altoona (Pirates) on Friday, the Pottsville Area grad struck out a career-high 11 Curve batters while only allowing 1 hit (a solo home run) over the course of 7 strong innings.
Unfortunately for Holobetz, who took the loss, that run was all the Curve needed as his Sea Dogs struggled to get runners in motion all night, dropping the game 2-0.
Regardless of the result, Holobetz has started the 2026 season about as well as anyone could expect. In his previous start, he tied a then-career high in strikeouts with 9 and he’s got 23 Ks over his 3 starts, against just 5 walks. His ERA is 1.13.
This coming week, Holobetz’ Sea Dogs have a home series against the Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies).
Thomas Schultz (Mount Carmel Area) – Pitcher, Harrisburg Senators (Nationals-AA)
Schultz made relief appearances for the Senators on back-to-back nights last week in their series against the Erie SeaWolves (Tigers).
In an appearance on Friday night, Schultz worked the 6th inning, allowing just 1 hit as the Lawmakers shut out the Flagship City Kitties, 2-0.
However, on the following night, Schultz was called out of the bullpen early and struggled getting through the 4th inning. He allowed a triple and then a home run, which gave Erie a 6-4 lead.
Schultz would end up taking the loss as the Senators fell, 9-5.
The Senators are back at home this week for a series against the Curve.
Reggie Crawford (North Schuylkill) – Pitcher, San Francisco Giants organization
Crawford underwent his most recent shoulder shoulder in September and, according to San Francisco Chronicle, his “best-case scenario” has him returning to the mound midway through the 2026 season.
Kaleb Sophy (Blue Mountain) – Pitcher, Lexington Legends (MLB Partner League)
Sophy will return to the Lexington Legends, where he started the 2025 season before signing a contract to play with the Kannapolic Cannonballers (White Sox-A). The Legends season starts Tuesday.
Nate Nabholz (Blue Mountain) – Pitcher, Tri-City Valleycats (MLB Partner League)
Nabholz re-signed with the Valleycats for the 2026 season after finishing the 2025 season with the Frontier League club. Tri-City’s Opening Day is set for May 8.
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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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