Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Announce 2022 Game Times The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, have announced their home game times for the 2022 season. The upcoming season opens on April 5 and continues through September 21 with a full 144-game schedule, including 72 games at PNC Field. The first pitch for all weeknight games throughout the season will be at 6:35 p.m. Saturday games in April and May will start at 4:05 and shift to 6:05 starting on June 4 for the remainder of the year. Sunday games will begin at 1:05 p.m. The RailRiders will host two STEM School Day games in 2022 with early start times. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre plays Syracuse on Wednesday, May 11, and Jacksonville on Wednesday, May 25, beginning at 11:05 a.m. Full, half and partial season ticket memberships as well as mini and flex plans are on sale now. Find more information online at swbrailriders.com or by calling (570) 969-2255.
RailRiders to Host High School “Hackathon” at PNC Field The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders will host local high school students for a “hackathon” on November 6 in the Geisinger Champions Club at PNC Field during NEPA STEM Ecosystem’s Celebration of STEM in Industry. A “hackathon” is an invention marathon. Programmers, designers, builders and more join together to learn, build, and share their creations. Hackathons are not limited to computer science interests — this “hackathon” is open to students who have an interest in technology and are eager to learn.Teams of students (with diverse backgrounds and interests in areas like math, science, design, economics, etc.) will be given a “problem” and their challenge will be creating a mobile/web app that will help solve that problem. The “problem” for this event will relate to something at PNC Field, but students will not know the challenge until they arrive on the day of the event. Students will receive hints related to the task through social media during the week leading up to November 6 and multiple experts will be on-site that day to answer any questions they have regarding the challenge.The students will be creating a “wire-frame” of an actual app, but not completing coding and creating a real app. At the end of the event, students will present their apps to the event judges and a winner will be announced. Cash prizes along with some special gifts from the RailRiders will be awarded to the winners.Registration is still open for high school teams of three to five students and this event is not open to the public. School districts may register more than one team. Students can range between ninth and twelfth grade and a team should be comprised of three to five individuals. Districts are encouraged to create diverse teams of all abilities and aptitudes with a variety of talents with attention to skill sets such as coding and programming, graphic designers/artists and user experience design, as well as those who excel in science and math. It is suggested to have at least one alternate student per team. Districts can also register for all virtual participation in this event. To register for this event, contact Stephanie Williams at swilliams@iu19.org. For more information on other events happening during NEPA STEM Ecosystem’s Celebration of STEM in Industry, visit NEPASTEM.ORG.
RailRiders Joining MiLB and Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) has announced a three-year partnership with Marvel Entertainment, one of the world’s most prominent storytelling brands, for an exciting event series that will play out in ballparks across all levels of MiLB starting in 2022, including PNC Field; the home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Today’s announcement was made at the “Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes” exhibit at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, which celebrates Marvel history with more than 300 artifacts including original comic book pages, sculptures, costumes and interactive displays. “We are certainly excited to join clubs from across Minor League Baseball to help bring this fabled brand to PNC Field starting next season,” said John Adams, the RailRiders’ team president. “Marvel has really become synonymous with super heroes over the last decade and a half and this partnership will allow clubs to take the next step for all of our fans entertainment.” The new partnership will feature 96 MiLB teams participating in an event series called “Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond” during the 2022 through 2024 baseball seasons. In each of the three years of the partnership, all 96 participating MiLB teams will host at least one Marvel Super Hero-themed game as part of the “Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond” campaign, where teams will wear special edition Marvel Super Hero-branded jerseys on-field during the game with other Marvel-themed activities and promotions taking place throughout the game. Fans may visit milb.com/marvel for the latest updates on the “Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond” series. For more information on 2022 season tickets, visit swbrailriders.com or call (570) 969-BALL.
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield fighting hunger with RailRiders home runs The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are proud to partner with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield to raise money for National Hunger Awareness Month. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield will donate $10 for every home run that the RailRiders hit during the 2021 season to the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank in Pittston. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has hit 120 home runs so far this season, putting the current donation total at $1,200. The RailRiders have 21 games remaining this season, including the remainder of the regular season and The Final Stretch. “We are proud to partner with our friends at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on this important initiative,” said Brian Rinker, Market President at Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. “Now more than ever, we want to support local organizations that address hunger and food insecurity in our community. We wish the RailRiders the best of luck for a successful finish to the season!” In our region, one in six children and one in eight adults face hunger each day. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank is a Feeding America partner and works to reduce hunger and promote proper nutrition in addition to preventing food waste. The Food Bank serves four counties in Northeast Pennsylvania: Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna, and Wyoming. “Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield has been a great partner over the years and we appreciate their support of the Northeast Regional Food Bank,” said Katie Beekman, the RailRiders’ General Manager. “We have all seen the disheartening statistics and truly hope that this program can benefit those in need in NEPA. Now it’s time for the RailRiders to finish strong.” For more information, visit swbrailriders.com or call (570) 969-BALL.
Homers That Help Campaign to benefit Wyoming Valley Challenger Baseball Minor League Baseball™ has announced the creation of a charitable component to Triple-A Baseball’s Final Stretch, the 10-game close of the 2021 season, that will benefit a 501(c)3 charity in each Triple-A city. For each home run hit by Triple-A teams (home and road games) during the Triple-A Final Stretch, Minor League Baseball will donate $50 per home run to a local charity selected by the team. Wyoming Valley Challenger Baseball has been tabbed as the benefactor of each home run that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders hit during the final 10 games of 2021. In addition to the $50 per home run donation, the Triple-A team that hits the most home runs over the upcoming 10-game span will generate an extra $5,000 donation for their charity. “Minor League Baseball teams have long been great community partners, and we are pleased to make a donation to each of these local charities on behalf of our Triple-A teams for their performance during the Triple-A Final Stretch,” said Major League Baseball’s Vice President, Minor League Operations and Development, Peter Woodfork. “These charities provide a variety of valuable services to their community, and it is our honor to recognize their efforts.” “The yearly support we have received from the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders has been remarkable and such a huge boost for our organization,” said Larry Wills, President of Wyoming Valley Challenger Baseball. “I would really like to thank the front office staff and players for the continued support and all that they do for these incredible kids. Now… Let’s swing for the fences!”The RailRiders host the Syracuse Mets from September 22 through 26 before traveling to Rochester from September 29 through October 3 for their Final Stretch. Tickets are available at swbrailriders.com.
Vejigantes to return in 2022 Copa de la Diversión The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are pleased to announce that they will continue to participate in Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversión during the 2022 season. The RailRiders will play on select dates as the “Vejigantes” next season to honor and recognize the growing Latino population in Northeastern Pennsylvania. 76 clubs across Minor League Baseball participated in Copa de la Diversión this season. Seven new teams will join in 2022 and two additional teams that didn’t participate this season will return next summer. Each of the 85 participating MiLB teams, covering 33 U.S. states, will transform its on-field brand to a culturally relevant Latino persona, representing an extension of the team’s and community’s identity. The Vejigante is a brightly-colored, folkloric masked character that is a blend of African, Spanish and Caribbean influences and a key figure in several annual celebrations. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre first adopted this identity in 2019 for Copa de la Diversión. 2022 Copa de la Diversión dates will be announced at a later time. The RailRiders have five games at PNC Field remaining this year, returning home from September 22-26 to host the Syracuse Mets in Triple-A Baseball’s Final Stretch. Tickets are available at swbrailriders.com.
SWB RailRiders to Host First Responders & Military Appreciation Night Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will host First Responders & Military Appreciation Night on September 11 when the RailRiders take on the Rochester Red Wings at PNC Field. In appreciation of those men and women who support and sacrifice daily for our nation, the RailRiders are offering two free tickets to all first responders as well as active duty and veterans of our Armed Forces. Gates open at 5:00 P.M. on September 11 and the first pitch against the Washington Nationals Triple-A affiliate is set for 6:05. First responders and active duty/veteran Armed Forces members can claim their two free field reserved tickets by presenting a valid ID at the PNC Field Box Office this week. The box office will be open at 4:00 P.M. Tuesday through Friday prior to the RailRiders games against the Red Wings. On Saturday, September 11, the box office will open at 3:00 P.M.
RailRiders Boyle Honored by Triple-A East Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders pitcher Sean Boyle has been honored as Triple-A East’s Pitcher-of-the-Week for August 16 through 22. On August 19, Boyle tossed a no-hitter in game two of a doubleheader against the Worcester Red Sox at Polar Park; a 5-0 RailRiders victory. Boyle, 24, made his first-ever Triple-A start on August 19 and the seventh of his professional career since being drafted by the New York Yankees in the 25th round out of Dallas Baptist University in 2018. He walked one and hit one batter in the complete-game effort, striking out six and throwing 95 pitches to no-hit the WooSox. The right-hander had never thrown more than 66 pitches in any of his previous 45 pro outings. Boyle’s no-hitter was the second by the RailRiders this season, joining the performance by Luis Gil, Reggie McClain and Stephen Ridings on July 21 against Rochester, which also netted Gil Pitcher-of-the-Week honors for his effort. Boyle also worked the first four innings of a seven-inning no-hitter for Hudson Valley on July 10. It was the first seven-inning, complete game no-hitter by a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitcher since Robert Ellis on June 6, 2004, against Louisville. Boyle has pitched at three levels this season, compiling a 6-3 mark with a 2.17 earned run average over 62.1 total innings pitched. The RailRiders continue a two-city road trip Tuesday, August 24, at Lehigh Valley and return to PNC Field on August 31 to host the Buffalo Bisons. Tickets for the upcoming 14-game homestand, which also welcomes Rochester back to PNC Field, are available online at swbrailriders.com.
Opponents and Dates Set Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s 2022 Season The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are pleased to announce their schedule for the 2022 season. The RailRiders will open their season on April 5 on the road and conclude a 144-game schedule on September 21, split evenly with 72 games at home and 72 on the road. The 2022 schedule is comprised of 23 six-game series and two three-game sets. After only playing within Triple-A East’s Northeast Division in 2021, the club will now take on division rivals 102 times and play 42 games against inter-divisional opponents. The RailRiders are in the Northeast Division along with the Buffalo Bisons (Toronto), Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia), Rochester Red Wings (Washington), Syracuse Mets (New York Mets) and Worcester Red Sox (Boston). “The release of the 2022 schedule is really exciting for many reasons,” stated John Adams, Team President of the RailRiders. “While having baseball back in 2021 has been a tremendous boost to our community in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the new 2022 schedule includes a full slate of games and is the first step in getting back to planning a fun and eventful lineup of promotions to coincide with top-tier baseball from the New York Yankees farm system next season.” Scranton/Wilkes-Barre begins the 2022 season in Syracuse on April 5 and plays its home opener one week later on April 12 against the Norfolk Tides (Baltimore). The RailRiders will travel to Buffalo and host Lehigh Valley during the month as well.The team travels to Rochester and Worcester during May, while it hosts Syracuse, a first-ever meeting with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Miami) and starts a series against Lehigh Valley at PNC Field.Home games in June include contests against the IronPigs, Red Wings and Bisons, while road swings hit Syracuse and Toledo (Detroit). After concluding a series at home against Buffalo on July 3, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre travels to Worcester for a game on July 4. The team returns home on July 12 to host the Louisville Bats (Cincinnati). After the Triple-A All-Star break from July 18-21, the RailRiders head down the turnpike for a three-game set versus the IronPigs. They conclude July in Rochester against the Red Wings.August opens with 12 home dates over 13 days, from August 2 through 14, with the Bisons and Red Sox welcomed to town. A 12-game, 13-day road trip to the St. Paul Saints (Minnesota) and the Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City) follows; the first time in history that the RailRiders will play either of those two clubs. The month ends with the first two games of a six-game set against Syracuse at PNC Field.In September, the RailRiders host the Mets, travel to play the Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay) and return to Moosic to play Worcester. The year’s final series is another three-game set against Lehigh Valley on the road from September 19-21.Game times and promotions will be announced later and the 2022 schedule remains subject to change.Full, Half and Partial Season Ticket Memberships for the 2022 season are on sale now. For more information, please visit swbrailriders.com or call (570) 969-BALL.
Gil Honored by Triple-A East for Week of July 19-25 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders pitcher Luis Gil has bee tabbed as Triple-A East’s Pitcher-of-the-Week for July 19-25. On July 21, Gil combined with Reggie McClain and Stephen Ridings to throw a no-hitter against the Rochester Red Wings; the franchise’s first no-hitter since September 2006. Gil, 23, pitched six no-hit frames in his lone start of the week, walking two and striking out nine. This season, the Azua, Dominican Republic native has gone 3-0 with a 4.03 earned run average for the RailRiders in seven games, all starts. Prior to joining Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Gil was 1-1 with a 264 ERA for the Somerset Patriots in Double-A. Gil joins pitcher Deivi Garcia and Chris Gittens as a weekly league award honoree. Garcia was the Pitcher-of-the-Week for May 10-16 while Gittens was the Player-of-the-Week for June 21-27. Gil, McClain and Ridings no-hit effort against the Red Wings was the first for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre since Jeremy Cummings on September 3, 2006 at Rochester.The RailRiders begins a road series against the Syracuse Mets on July 27 and returns to PNC Field on August 3 for 12 games over 13 days with Worcester and Lehigh Valley coming to town. Single-game tickets for the upcoming homestand, as well as each home game for the remainder of the season, are available now online at swbrailriders.com.
