The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Pro Blazer Update: September 8
9/8/2025 3:35:00 PM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM - The home stretch of the 2025 baseball season is near as seven former Blazers look to close the season on a high note. Check out their progress on the September 8 edition of the Pro Blazer Update.
GRAHAM ASHCRAFT - CINCINNATI REDS
Hometown: Huntsville, Ala.
POS: RHP | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 248 | Bats/Throws: L/R | Played at UAB: 2019
2025 Stats:
Record: 8-5 | ERA: 3.72 | G: 53 | GS: 0 | IP: 58.0 | K: 56 | BB: 24 | WHIP: 1.45
Note: Ashcraft remains on the 15-day IL (retroactive to August 25) with a right forearm strain.
TYLER TOLBERT - KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Hometown: Trussville, Ala.
POS: Utility | Height: 5-11 | Weight 185 | Bats/Throws: R/R | Played at UAB: 2017-19
2025 Stats:
AVG: .222 | AB: 36 | H: 8 | R: 12 | 2B: 1 | 3B: 0 | HR: 1 | RBI: 5 | BB: 0 | SB: 17 | OPS: .608
Note: Tolbert appeared in 16 of the Royals' 28 games in the month of August, picking up six stolen bases, three hits, and driving in three as Kansas City's utilityman.
Click HERE to watch Tolbert drive in a run on a sacrifice fly on August 21.
GARRETT WHITLOCK - BOSTON RED SOX
Hometown: Snellville, Ga.
POS: RHP | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 222 | Bats/Throws: R/R | Played at UAB: 2016-17
2025 Stats:
Record: 6-3 | ERA: 2.48 | G: 56 | GS: 0 | IP: 65.1 | K: 79 | BB: 24 | WHIP: 1.12
Note: Whitlock finished the month of August with a 0.73 ERA and a 73.6% strike rate. He picked up the win at Arizona on September 7 after pitching 1.2 scoreless innings in relief and picking up a strikeout.
Watch: Click HERE to watch Whitlock escape a jam with a strikeout against Baltimore on August 28.
BREWER HICKLEN - LEHIGH VALLEY IRON PIGS (TRIPLE-A AFFILIATE OF THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES)
Hometown: Huntsville, Ala.
POS: OF | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 220 | Bats/Throws: R/R | Played at UAB: 2015-17
2025 Stats (Minors):
AVG: .216 | AB: 320 | H: 69 | R: 53 | 2B: 9 | 3B: 2 | HR: 15 | RBI: 53 | BB: 39 | SB: 22 | OPS: .711
Note: Hicklen has hit three home runs through four games in the month of September. He also has driven in seven, scored five times, and carries a 5-game hitting streak into the final two weeks of the regular season.
JAMES NAILE - KIA TIGERS (KOREA BASEBALL ORGANIZATION)
Hometown: Charleston, MO
POS: RHP | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 183 | Bats/Throws: R/R | Played at UAB: 2013-15
2025 Stats:
Record: 8-4 | ERA: 2.32 | G: 26 | GS: 26 | IP: 159.1 | K: 147 | BB: 36 | WHIP: 1.05 | QS: 19
Note: Naile picked up the win on August 29 after going seven strong innings allowing just one run on three hits. He ranks second in the KBO in Quality Starts (19), third in ERA (2.32), fourth in WHIP (1.05), and sixth in strikeouts (147).
LOGAN BRAUNSCHWEIG - ROME EMPERORS (HIGH-A AFFILIATE OF THE ATLANTA BRAVES)
Hometown: Alabaster, Ala.
POS: OF | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 195 | Bats/Throws: L/R | Played at UAB: 2022-25
2025 Stats:
AVG: .294 | AB: 85 | H: 25 | R: 12 | 2B: 3 | 3B: 1 | HR: 0 | RBI: 9 | SB: 4 | OPS: .759
Note: Braunschweig concluded the 2025 season with five hits in his final six games played. He made an immediate impact to the Emperors' lineup as he tallied 25 hits in the 26 games he played.
NICK HOLLIFIELD - FREDERICKSBURG NATIONALS (SINGLE-A AFFILIATE OF THE WASHINGTON NATIONALS)
Hometown: Hoschton, Ga.
POS: C | Height: 5-11 | Weight: 190 | Bats/Throws: R/R | Played at UAB: 2023-25
2025 Stats:
AVG: .242 | AB: 66 | H: 16 | R: 12 | 2B: 1 | 3B: 0 | HR: 0 | RBI: 10 | SB: 0 | OPS: .628
Note: Hollifield has been a key part in Fredericksburg's second half success as the Nationals clinched the Second Half Championship on September 5. Hollifield finished the month of August going 15-for-52 with five multi-hit games.
COLIN DANIEL - FCL BRAVES (COMPLEX LEAGUE AFFILIATE OF THE ATLANTA BRAVES)
Hometown: Corner, Ala.
POS: RHP | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 215 | Bats/Throws: R/R | Played at UAB: 2023-25
Note: Daniel will sit out the remainder of the 2025 season due to workload management.
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