The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Pro Blazer Update: August 27
8/27/2025 4:07:00 PM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM - As the calendar comes to a close in the month of August, several former Blazers have made a big splash in professional baseball. Check out their progress in this 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 picked up a win on August 24 against Arizona, lowering his season ERA to 3.72. He has allowed two earned runs in the month of August.
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: .242 | AB: 33 | H: 8 | R: 10 | 2B: 1 | 3B: 0 | HR: 1 | RBI: 5 | BB: 0 | SB: 17 | OPS: .642
Note: Tolbert picked up a double and drove in a run in the August 21 win over Texas. Tolbert ranks third for the Royals in stolen bases with 17.
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: 5-3 | ERA: 2.67 | G: 52 | GS: 0 | IP: 60.2 | K: 74 | BB: 22 | WHIP: 1.10
Note: Whitlock has allowed one earned run in the month of August with an ERA of 0.87 in that span. His 74 strikeouts ranks first and his 2.67 ERA ranks second among Red Sox relievers.
Watch: Click HERE to watch Whitlock pick up a big strikeout against Baltimore on August 25.
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: .208 | AB: 293 | H: 61 | R: 47 | 2B: 8 | 3B: 2 | HR: 12 | RBI: 43 | BB: 37 | SB: 22 | OPS: .684
Note: Hicklen has homered in two of his last three games. His 12 home runs on the season ranks second for Lehigh Valley.
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: 7-3 | ERA: 2.32 | G: 24 | GS: 24 | IP: 147.1 | K: 137 | BB: 33 | WHIP: 1.03 | QS: 18
Note: Naile's spectacular season in the KBO continues as he ranks towards the top in multiple pitching categories. He ranks third in ERA (2.32), third in WHIP (1.03), third in runs allowed, fourth in innings pitched (147.1), and sixth in strikeouts (137).
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: .346 | AB: 52 | H: 6 | R: 9 | 2B: 2 | 3B: 1 | HR: 0 | RBI: 6 | SB: 3 | OPS: .856
Note: Braunschweig recorded a 3-hit game on August 16 against Bowling Green. He recorded a hit in 10 straight games from August 5-19 with six multi-hit games in that stretch. Braunschweig also received South Atlantic League Player of the Week honors on August 18.
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: .310 | AB: 42 | H: 13 | R: 8 | 2B: 1 | 3B: 0 | HR: 0 | RBI: 10 | SB: 0 | OPS: .733
Note: In 11 games with Fredericksburg, Hollifield has picked up five multi-hit games and four multi-RBI games. He recorded a walk-off base hit on August 17 against Salem.
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.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
Stay up to date with UAB Baseball by following @UAB_Baseball on Instagram and X.
Your Support Fuels Success!
With your help, Blazer Student-Athletes are given the resources, tools, and opportunities they need to achieve greatness. Every contribution you make directly supports our teams, ensuring they excel not only on the field but in the classroom as well. We invite you to renew your support to UAB Athletics today and for more information on ways to show your generosity through the Blazer Scholarship Fund, capital initiatives, and sport specific giving go to blazerboosters.com or call us at (205) 996-9969.
