The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Pro Blazer Update: September 28
9/28/2026 6:00:00 PM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM - The 2026 regular season is complete with the postseason on deck for two former Blazers. Garrett Whitlock for the Boston Red Sox and Brewer Hicklen for the Atlanta Braves look to march through the postseason on the way to the Fall Classic the final week of October. Check out where all nine former Blazers stand in the final edition of the 2026 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
2026 Stats:
Record: 1-1 | ERA: 4.08 | G: 35 | SV: 1 | IP: 35.1 | K: 40 | BB: 24 | WHIP: 1.44
Note: Ashcraft returned from the 60-day IL and pitched in nine games over the final month of the season for the Reds. Ashcraft struck out eight in 8.1 innings in that stretch.
BREWER HICKLEN - ATLANTA BRAVES
Hometown: Huntsville, Ala.
POS: OF | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 220 | Bats/Throws: R/R | Played at UAB: 2015-17
2026 Stats:
AVG: .256 | AB: 39 | H: 10 | R: 9 | 2B: 5 | 3B: 0 | HR: 0 | RBI: 3 | BB: 8 | SB: 0 | OPS: .768
Note: Hicklen saw over half of his at bats for the season in the month of September. Hicklen will be used in a bench role as the Braves enter the postseason.
TYLER TOLBERT - KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Hometown: Trussville, Ala.
POS: Utility | Height: 5-10 | Weight 185 | Bats/Throws: R/R | Played at UAB: 2017-19
2026 Stats:
AVG: .285 | AB: 130 | H: 37 | R: 32 | 2B: 5 | 3B: 0 | HR: 3 | RBI: 8 | BB: 12 | SB: 22 | OPS: .739
Note: Tolbert finished his first full season with the big league club appearing in 80 of the 162 games this season. He finishes with a slash line of .285/.347/.392 and also totaled the 3rd-highest batting average for the Royals (min. 120 at-bats).
News: Click HERE to watch Tolbert steal his 21st base of the season.
GARRETT WHITLOCK - BOSTON RED SOX
Hometown: Snellville, Ga.
POS: RHP | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 222 | Bats/Throws: R/R | Played at UAB: 2016-17
2026 Stats:
Record: 7-2 | ERA: 1.72 | G: 54 | SV: 4 | IP: 52.1 | K: 59 | BB: 9 | WHIP: 0.90
Note: Whitlock finished the regular season as a staple in the back end of the Red Sox bullpen. He recorded the best ERA among pitchers with at least 30 appearances (1.72). Whitlock also finished the regular season with the 4th-best BB/9 rate in MLB (1.55).
Watch: Click HERE to watch Whitlock pick up a save on September 17 over the Rangers.
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
2026 Stats:
Record: 12-7 | ERA: 3.45 | G: 29 | GS: 29 | IP: 169.2 | K: 143 | BB: 35 | WHIP: 1.17 | QS: 19
Note: Naile has been on a hot streak for the Kia Tigers of the KBO. He has a Quality Start in eight of his last nine starts including six shutout innings on September 26 against the LG Twins. He has thrown a career-high in innings pitched (169.2) and has matched his Quality Start total from a year ago with 19.
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
2026 Stats (High-A and AA):
AVG: .229 | AB: 297 | H: 68 | R: 33 | 2B: 8 | 3B: 1 | HR: 3 | RBI: 33 | SB: 17 | OPS: .637
Note: Braunschweig completed his first full professional season in the Braves organization spending most of his time with High-A Rome and a brief stint with Double-A Columbus. He appeared in 96 games between the two levels and tallied 87 total bases.
COLIN DANIEL - ROME EMPERORS (HIGH-A AFFILIATE OF THE ATLANTA BRAVES)
Hometown: Corner, Ala.
POS: RHP | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 215 | Bats/Throws: R/R | Played at UAB: 2023-25
2026 Stats:
Record: 2-6 | ERA: 5.20 | G: 13 | GS: 10 | IP: 55.1 | K: 60 | BB: 23 | WHIP: 1.34 | QS: 4
Note: Daniel was placed on the 60-day IL on July 13 and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season with a back injury.
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
2026 Stats:
AVG: .161 | AB: 124 | H: 20 | R: 24 | 2B: 4 | 3B: 0 | HR: 2 | RBI: 14 | SB: 1 | OPS: .573
Note: Hollifield landed on the 60-day IL with a hand injury on July 22.
MASON STEELE - ACL DIAMONDBACKS (COMPLEX LEAGUE AFFILIATE OF THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS)
Hometown: Headland, Ala.
POS: RHP | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 195 | Bats/Throws: L/R | Played at UAB: 2026
Note: Steele is actively training in the Arizona Complex League after a busy season with the Green and Gold. Steele's workload is likely to be limited for the remainder of the season after throwing a team-high 75.1 innings pitched for the Blazers this spring.
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