Red Sox Bolster Minor League Pitching Depth with Acquisition of John Holobetz from Brewers

*Red Sox Bolster Minor League Pitching Depth with Acquisition of John Holobetz from Brewers**

BOSTON, MA – On Monday, May 5, 2025, the Boston Red Sox finalized a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, acquiring minor league right-handed pitcher John Holobetz as the player to be named later in the April 7 deal that sent right-hander Quinn Priester to Milwaukee. The acquisition, announced by the Red Sox via social media, completes a trade that also brought outfield prospect Yophery Rodriguez and a 2025 Competitive Balance Round A draft pick (No. 33 overall) to Boston, significantly enhancing the organization’s farm system. Holobetz, a 22-year-old pitcher drafted by the Brewers in the fifth round of the 2024 MLB Draft, has shown early promise in his professional career and adds depth to Boston’s burgeoning pipeline of young arms

 

Holobetz, a native of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, was selected 156th overall out of Old Dominion University, where he primarily served as a reliever but also made occasional starts. Standing at 6’3” and weighing 190 pounds, the right-hander brings a lanky frame and a three-pitch arsenal—fastball, slider, and changeup—that has already generated buzz in the low minors. His fastball, which sits between 92-94 mph and can touch 96, is complemented by an 83-86 mph slider and a high-80s changeup, delivered from a three-quarter arm slot with an effortful but repeatable motion. In his first professional season with the Brewers’ Low-A affiliate, the Carolina Mudcats, Holobetz posted an impressive 3.00 ERA over 24 innings across five appearances (three starts), striking out 31 batters while issuing just five walks. His 0.875 WHIP and .180 batting average against underscore his ability to dominate hitters, with a standout performance on April 20 where he struck out eight consecutive batters.

 

The Red Sox have assigned Holobetz to their Low-A affiliate, the Salem Red Sox, though his early success suggests a potential promotion to High-A Greenville could come sooner rather than later. Among qualified Carolina League pitchers, Holobetz led in key metrics, including strikeout rate (31.3%), WHIP (0.88), FIP