Storybook season continues in AAA for new WooSox pitcher John Holobetz

WORCESTER — It’s been a storybook two weeks for John Holobetz.

On July 26, the right-handed pitcher was told he was being promoted from Double-A Portland to Triple-A Worcester. Four days later, he made his Triple-A debut on the road.

On Wednesday, Holobetz made his first start in a WooSox uniform at Polar Park — throwing four innings while allowing five hits and zero runs and striking out two.

Just 10 days after learning he’d been called up to Worcester, the 23-year-old prospect finds himself settling into Worcester nicely while being one call away from the big leagues.

“It’s cool. I mean, I’m one step away,” Holobetz told the T&G. “It is a dream come true.”

Holobetz spent all of 2026 with Portland before joining Worcester last week. In 17 games (15 starts), he went 5-3 with a 4.33 ERA, 25 walks and 93 strikeouts across 71 innings pitched. Holobetz had the ninth best ERA among qualifying pitchers in the Eastern League and was tied for seventh in the league in strikeouts, sixth in batting average against (.236) and second in WHIP (1.22).

Holobetz was named the Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month for July.

“He’s just a competitor,” said WooSox pitcher Blake Wehunt, who was officially promoted to Worcester on July 21. “You know what you’re going to get out of him. He’s going to throw strikes. He’s going to either make (the batter) hit (the ball) or they’re going to sit down. It’s fun to watch.”

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound righty was originally selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft.

Holobetz came to the Red Sox as the player to be named later on April 7, 2025 in a deal that sent right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester to Milwaukee from Boston. In 40 games (34 starts) in two Minor League seasons, Holobetz is 13-7 with a 3.54 ERA along with 213 strikeouts in 203⅔ innings.

After pitching in a game for Portland in Binghamton, NY on July 23, Holobetz was called into the office of Sea Dogs acting manager Kyle Sasala three days later and told he was going to Worcester and making his AAA debut in Virginia.

“I was really happy to hear those words,” said Holobetz, who went to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. “But also Norfolk was where I went to school and I have a lot of family down there.

“That’s storybook type stuff. I was ecstatic.”

Holobetz fired 5.2 innings of one-run ball in his Triple-A debut. The righty pounded the strike zone (throwing his first 15 pitches for strikes) and struck out six batters while picking up the win in his first WooSox start.

“From pitch one, he was right in the zone and he fed right off of that,” WooSox acting manager Iggy Suarez said. “You would’ve thought that he’s been with us for a while.”

“He showed tremendous confidence and conviction in what he was throwing, that was what was more impressive,” WooSox pitching coach Dan DeLucia said. “He took the ball and he was able to fill up the zone like he’s done all year in Double A.”

A self-taught pitcher until he was a sophomore in high school, Holobetz showcases a bit of different delivery that is quick and from the side. He’s currently working on adding a sinker to his arsenal — but throws five pitches: fastball, cutter, slider, sweeper and changeup.

The latter is a “kick-change,” which is a “work in progress.”

“It’s a pitch that’s pretty serviceable and gotten him a decent amount of whiff to lefties and righties,” DeLucia said. “I think that’s something he’s going to continue to lean on.”

On Wednesday, Holobetz threw 61 pitches and 48 for strikes. He tossed 33 fastballs, 17 cutters, six changeups and five curveballs/sliders, while lowing his Triple-A ERA to 0.93. Since he pitched just four innings, he didn’t pick up his second win with the WooSox.

Still, Holobetz has fit right in with Worcester.

“The ball’s coming out of his hand pretty freaking good,” Suarez said.

Meet new WooSox pitcher John Holobetz, who made his Triple-A debut last week on the road and makes his Polar Park debut tomorrow. Holobetz, who was the player to be named later in the Quinn Priester trade last year, grew up as a Yankees fan but now “hates the Yankees.” He’s also… pic.twitter.com/jdFnAoPinB

— Tommy Cassell (@tommycassell44) August 4, 2026 Holobetz, who grew up a Yankees fan while his older brother and grandfather were Red Sox fans, now finds himself pitching for the Red Sox’ Triple-A club. Adding another chapter to his baseball story.

“It’s definitely not how I would have drawn it up,” Holobetz said. “But, it’s all been for the best.”

—Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Storybook season continues in AAA for new WooSox pitcher John Holobetz