RailRiders' Holder strikes out 11 in a row
For someone who doesn't consider himself a strikeout pitcher, Jonathan Holder sure had a lot of people fooled on Sunday. The Yankees prospect fanned 11 batters in a row and 12 of the 13 hitters he faced over four innings of scoreless relief as Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre beat Rochester, 3-1, to
For someone who doesn't consider himself a strikeout pitcher, Jonathan Holder sure had a lot of people fooled on Sunday.
The Yankees prospect fanned 11 batters in a row and 12 of the 13 hitters he faced over four innings of scoreless relief as Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre beat Rochester, 3-1, to clinch an International League playoff berth.
"Ever since college, my approach has been that you can't get outs by throwing balls," Holder said. "I've always been a guy that likes to pound the zone and trust the defense behind me. Getting swings and misses is a plus, but letting hitters get themselves out is my game plan."
Holder took over for Tyler Webb (4-3) with runners at the corners and nobody out in the sixth inning. Trying his best to limit the damage, the 23-year-old right-hander struck out Wilfredo Tovar, Leonardo Reginatto and John Ryan Murphy -- all swinging -- to preserve the RailRiders' 3-1 lead.
"We were up two runs and I knew that guy on first was an important run," the 6-foot-2 reliever said. "So I was doing everything I could to keep that run from scoring. With the defense that we have here, it's easy for a pitcher to throw strikes, and with the bats that we have, we can erase a lead at any time. It makes it more comfortable for us to just work in the zone."
The dominance continued in the seventh when Holder fanned Byron Buxton, James Beresford and Reynaldo Rodriguez. Holder took it to the next level an inning later, needing only 13 pitches to get three swinging strikeouts against Kennys Vargas, Twins No. 15 prospect Adam Brett Walker and No. 20 prospect Daniel Palka.
Holder's streak reached double digits in the ninth with his second strikeouts of Tovar and Reginatto. The Red Wings finally put a ball in play against the 2014 sixth-round pick when Murphy reached on an infield single.
Holder had no time to reflect on the end of the streak as Buxton stepped to the plate as the potential tying run in a game that could send the RailRiders to the postseason. After Buxton -- who'd homered in each of his previous four games -- fouled off the first three pitches, Holder froze him with one on the inner half.
"That was tricky because it brought up Buxton, who's a phenomenal hitter and he was the tying run," Holder said. "I had to really focus and lock in to get that final out and get us into the playoffs. Having seen that the [Double-A] Trenton Thunder clinched last night and be a part of this has been a great experience. It's been phenomenal."
Holder was called up on July 21 after posting a 2.20 ERA and 0.83 WHIP over 41 innings for Trenton. The Mississippi State product has excelled since the promotion, allowing seven hits and walking none in 20 1/3 innings while compiling a 0.89 ERA and 0.34 WHIP for the RailRiders.
In his first start back from the disabled list, Bryan Mitchell allowed an unearned run on four hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings.
After hitting a solo homer in the fourth, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's Chris Parmelee broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth with an RBI single against his former team.
Rochester's Jason Wheeler (11-5) surrendered three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three in seven innings.
Michael Leboff is a contributor to MiLB.com.
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring