Two former Fighting Knights start spring training on Florida’s west-coast

By Sean Harvey ’10

Published Wednesday, March 9, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The battery mates during the final out of the Fighting Knights National Championship game in 2009, Tommy Kahnle and Kyle Holloway '10, are starting new chapters in their lives by attending their first spring training as professional baseball players.

 

Holloway, a free agent acquisition on draft day last year by the Tampa Bay Rays, has reported to the Rays spring training home in Port Charlotte, FL. “I am excited to get back on the field and start playing again. I have worked very hard this off-season and I am looking forward to a great season,” said Holloway. Last year the Deerfield Beach native hit .253 with 4 homeruns and 28 runs-batted-in as the starting catcher for the Fighting Knights and then went on to hit .267 with 1 homerun and 28 runs-batted-in for three separate Ray’s affiliates in the minor leagues. Holloway spent most of his first professional season playing for the Hudson Valley Renegades of the New York Penn League and then had short stints for the Princeton Rays in the Appalachian League and the Triple-A Durham Bulls of the International League.

 

Kahnle, the 2009 Southeast Regional and World Series MVP had a little different route to professional baseball than Holloway. Kahnle was drafted as a pitcher in the 5th round of the amateur draft by the New York Yankees but spent most of the summer playing for the Orleans Firebirds in the Cape Cod Collegiate Baseball League due to a contract dispute with the Yankees. Once everything worked itself out, Kahnle reported to the Staten Island Yankees of the New York Penn League. In Staten Island the 6’2” pitcher made 11 appearances and only gave up 1 earned run leaving him with a 0.56 earned-run-average in his first stint as a professional baseball player. Kahnle has now reported to the New York Yankees spring training facility in Tampa, FL. “The off-seasons are enjoyable, but it feels good to get back to work and start another season,” said Kahnle.

 

To check out Kahnle or Holloway during spring training or to keep track of how they are doing when their seasons start, visit the New York Yankees or the Tampa Bay Rays websites.