RailRiders Extend Partnership with Bold Gold Media Group

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, have agreed to a two-year extension of their radio broadcast partnership with Bold Gold Media Group through the end of the 2024 International League season. All 150 RailRiders regular season games will be heard on “The Mothership” and its network of five frequencies across NEPA.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre games can be heard locally on 1400 WICK-AM (Lackawanna & Luzerne Counties), 1440 WCDL-AM (Lackawanna County & Pocono Lake Region), 93.5 FM (Scranton & Northern Lackawanna County), 106.7 FM (Wayne & Pike Counties) and 107.9 FM (Lackawanna County). In addition to radio broadcasts heard across the region, all RailRiders games will be streamed live on the web with links available through swbrailriders.com and boldgoldradionepa.com. The broadcasts are also streamed through Bold Gold’s free RadioBOLD app and MiLB’s First Pitch app.
Adam Marco enters his sixth year as the “Voice of the RailRiders,” having joined the franchise in 2018. Last November, he was honored as Ballpark Digest’s Minor League Broadcaster of the Year.
Emily Messina will join the broadcast team for the 2023 season. She spent the past three seasons as the lead broadcaster and Media Relations Manager of the Reading Fightin Phils, the Philadelphia Phillies Double-A affiliate. Previously, Messina broadcast games for the Melbourne Aces in the Australian Baseball League. She has also had stints in the Arizona Fall League and with the Lynchburg Hillcats in the Cleveland Indians minor league system. In the offseason, Messina calls a variety of sports including field hockey, basketball and swimming. She is a 2019 graduate of the Catholic University of America, where she was a four-year varsity athlete.
Each RailRiders’ radio broadcast begins 20 minutes prior to first pitch. For more information, please contact the RailRiders front office at (570) 969-2255.

RailRiders 2023 Promotions, Giveaways & Themes Announced

Opening Day at PNC Field is 29 days away and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are thrilled to unveil their 2023 promotional and giveaway schedule. Later this month, the RailRiders begin a home schedule that currently features 16 giveaways, 12 fireworks nights, six custom jerseys, four Copa de la Diversión games and much more!


2023 Promotional Calendar Highlights:
Opening Day is March 31 against the Buffalo Bisons. Gates will open at 5:30 P.M. with a magnetic schedule giveaway courtesy of Highmark BCBS for the first 2,000 fans. First pitch is slated for 6:35 and, after the final out, pyrotechnics will light up the sky with our first fireworks show of the season.
During the year, fans can enjoy 11 additional post game fireworks extravaganzas. Friday Night Fireworks begin on May 26 and will follow every Friday home game for the rest of the season. Plus we have added a Saturday show on August 12!
Copa de la Diversión is back for a fourth year with dates scheduled for May 5, June 22, July 6 and August 10, all presented by La Tolteca.
Replica Jersey Giveaways on April 15 and September 16 are set to honor two of baseball’s legendary players. The RailRiders will give away a “42” replica home jersey in April honoring Jackie Robinson and a replica alternate jersey in September paying tribute to Roberto Clemente. The “21” jersey is presented by La Tolteca.
On May 6, this is the way to fun as Star Wars Night returns to a galaxy close to you. The RailRiders will don custom jerseys set to be auctioned off to benefit NEPA Inclusive. Gates open at 3 and the first 2,000 fans will get a pair of custom SWB socks. During the game, galactic agents of good and evil will patrol the concourse for photo opportunities.
May 10 and 24 are STEM School Days, presented by Penn State Scranton, Hazleton, and Wilke-Barre. First pitch on each date is set for 11:05 A.M., but prior to the games, students from across NEPA will have the chance to participate in our annual trebuchet competition.
Military Appreciation Day is May 27 with a 4:05 P.M. first pitch. Gates open at 3 with a RailRiders boonie hat giveaway courtesy of MetLife.

Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond return to PNC Field on June 9 with custom jerseys to be auctioned off benefitting the Ronald McDonald House.
This season’s bobblehead lineup features three can’t-miss giveaways for the first 2,500 fans. Help celebrate manager Shelley Duncan’s return to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 10 with a Bobble Gnome Giveaway courtesy of PNC Bank.
June 11 is our first-ever Sensory Friendly Day. We will provide a sensory-safe environment for fans of all ages as the team takes on the Worcester Red Sox with a 1:05 P.M. first pitch, including reduced ballpark sounds, ZENsory Zone on-hand with sensory-friendly activities and much more.
June 22 is the RailRiders Open with a golf towel giveaway. Be the ball and enjoy a golf-inspired night with your best scramble to the ballpark.
Celebrate our nation’s independence at PNC Field on July 4. Lehigh Valley is in town for a 6:35 P.M. first pitch that night and we will have an extended fireworks show after the game as we honor America courtesy of the PA Lottery!
If you are looking for something for the kids, check out our exclusive Kids-Only giveaway dates on July 9 and August 27. July 9 is CHAMP’S birthday and the first 500 kids 12 & younger will receive a replica jersey honoring everyone’s favorite mascot, presented by Casey Dental. On August 27, the first 500 kids 12 & younger get a paintable CHAMP figurine.
Level up on Retro Video Game Night July 22 with an Anthony Volpe Bobblehead Giveaway for the first 2,500 fans. Plus the team will wear custom jerseys to be auctioned off, benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters, as we honor the classics from the golden age of video gaming.


Waste away at Margaritaville Night on August 15 with a Hawaiian Shirt Giveaway and custom jerseys auctioned off to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network at the Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital in Danville, presented by Giant.
We all know that there ain’t no party like a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre party, so don’t miss our Office Olympics Night on August 12. Gates at 5 P.M. with an Oswald Peraza & Oswaldo Cabrera Dual Bobblehead Giveaway for the first 2,500 fans, games that would make any office proud and maybe even a celebrity fun run plus post game fireworks!
Throw it back old school style on 90s Night August 26. The first 2,000 fans will receive a fuzzy bucket hat and the players will wear custom jerseys to be auctioned off benefitting the American Red Cross.


All giveaways are for the first 2,000 fans this season unless otherwise noted.
All promotions, theme nights and giveaways remain subject to change. More details and appearances will be announced as the 2023 season approaches.
Single-game tickets go on sale March 4 at 11 A.M. online at swbrailriders.com.

2023 Giveaways and Theme Nights
March 31 Opening Day! Magnetic Schedule Giveaway presented by Highmark; Post Game Fireworks
April 1 Clear Tote Bag Giveaway
April 15 RailRiders “42” Replica Home Jersey Giveaway
May 5 Copa de la Diversión presented by La Tolteca
May 6 Star Wars Night with a Custom Jersey Auction benefitting NEPA Exclusive;
SWB Socks Giveaway
May 10 STEM School Day presented by Penn State Scranton, Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre;
May 13 Fleece Blanket Giveaway
May 14 Mother’s Day at PNC Field with #1 Mom Coffee Mug Giveaway for the first 500 Moms
May 24 STEM School Day presented by Penn State Scranton, Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre;
May 26 Post Game Fireworks
May 27 Military Appreciation Day with a RailRiders Boonie Hat Giveaway presented by MetLife
June 9 Defenders of the Diamond Night with a Custom Jersey Auction benefitting
Ronald McDonald House; Boy Scout Night;
Post Game Fireworks
June 10 Shelley Duncan Bobble Gnome Giveaway courtesy of PNC Bank
June 11 Sensory Friendly Day
June 22 Pride Night
June 23 Copa de la Diversión presented by La Tolteca; Post Game Fireworks
June 24 RailRiders Open with a Golf Towel Giveaway
July 4 Independence Day Celebration with an Extended Post Game Fireworks Extravaganza
presented by the PA Lottery
July 6 Copa de la Diversión presented by La Tolteca
July 7 Post Game Fireworks
July 9 CHAMP’S Birthday with a Custom Jersey Giveaway for the first 500 kids 12 and younger
presented by Casey Dental
July 21 Post Game Fireworks
July 22 Retro Video Game Night with an Anthony Volpe Bobblehead Giveaway for the first 2,500 fans; Custom Jersey Auction benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters
August 4 Faith & Family Night; Post Game Fireworks
August 5 Margaritaville Night presented by Giant with a Hawaiian Shirt Giveaway and a Custom Jersey
Auction to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network; Girl Scout Night
August 10 Copa de la Diversión presented by La Tolteca
August 11 Post Game Fireworks
August 12 Office Olympics Night with an Oswald Peraza/ Oswaldo Cabrera Dual Bobblehead Giveaway for the first 2,500 fans; Post Game Fireworks
August 25 Post Game Fireworks
August 26 90s Night with a fuzzy SWB Bucket Hat Giveaway and a Custom Jersey Auction benefitting the American Red Cross
August 27 Paintable Champ Figurine Giveaway for the first 500 kids 12 and younger
September 15 Post Game Fireworks
September 16 SWB “21” Replica Jersey Giveaway honoring Roberto Clemente courtesy of La Tolteca
September 17 Fan Appreciation Day

RailRiders University Community Series Begins April 5

Annual series puts local high school and special needs teams on PNC Field 13 times this year.
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are pleased to announce the schedule for the seventh annual RailRiders University Community Series, presented by Geisinger. Each year, the RailRiders welcome local high school and special needs teams onto PNC Field to showcase their talents.


2023 RailRiders University Community Series
Date Time Game Details


April 5 4:30 P.M. Wyoming Seminary High School vs. Holy Redeemer High School
Doubleheader A battle of first-year head coaches starts the schedule when Kyle Ofier and the Blue Knights take on Ryan Knowles and the Royals.
Riverside High School vs. Holy Cross High School
RailRiders University instructor Sean Hughes leads the Vikings against the defending District 2 Champion Crusaders, led by Sandy Menichetti.


April 6 4:30 P.M. Hanover Area High School vs. Greater Nanticoke High School
Eric Spencer’s Trojans and Todd Kolbicka’s Hawkeyes return to PNC Field.


April 10 3:00 P.M. Western Wayne High School vs. Mid Valley High School
Wildcats John Bonyl takes on RRU instructor Ryan Kropa’s Spartans.


April 17 4:30 P.M. Delaware Valley High School vs. North Pocono High School
RRU instructor Brian Jardine and the Trojans host Sean Gilbin and the Warriors, who are making their PNC Field debut.


April 21 4:30 P.M. Panther Valley High School vs. Abington Heights High School
The Comets and RRU’s Billy Zalewski, host the Panthers from District 11.
April 24 4:30 P.M. West Scranton High School vs. Scranton High School


Jamie Higgins, a RRU instructor, and the Knights host Brian Minnich and the Invaders in this classic rivalry match-up.
Triple-A Affiliate of the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRidersPNC Field 235 Montage Mountain Road Moosic, PA 18507 570-969-2255 www.swbrailriders.com
media advisory
April 28 4:30 P.M. Blue Ridge High School vs. Mid Valley High School
The Spartans host coach Rob Dibble and the Raiders.


May 1 4:30 P.M. Valley View High School vs. Abington Heights High School
Another great rivalry game that pits the Cougars, led by Jason Munley, against the Comets.


May 7 TBD Crestwood High School vs. Dallas High School
After the RailRiders host the Rochester Red Wings, Sean Foley’s Comets and Mike Viglione’s Mountaineers wrap our Community Series with a rivalry clash.


There is no parking or admission fee for any of the 2023 RailRiders University Community Series games.
The RailRiders are also proud to host the Wyoming Valley Challenger League as part of the Community Series on June 11, 25 and July 9.


RailRiders University will host three camps this summer – June 27-29, July 25-27 and August 15-17. Save the dates now and be sure to book your six to 14 year-old once registration begins. Contact Robby Judge at (570) 558-4612 or rjudge@swbrailriders.com for additional information.
The 2023 RailRiders University Community Series is presented by Geisinger as part of their continued commitment to Northeastern Pennsylvania. For more information, please contact the RailRiders front office at
(570) 969-BALL.

Scranton/Wilkes Barre Railriders Tickets On Sale March 4

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, will put single-game tickets for the 2023 season on sale Saturday, March 4, beginning at 11 A.M. The RailRiders will commemorate this first chance to buy individual game tickets with a Preseason Preview at PNC Field from 11 A.M. until 2 P.M.


Individual tickets for any game will be available online only beginning at 11 A.M. at swbrailriders.com.
The RailRiders start their season at home on March 31 against the Buffalo Bisons and host 75 games at PNC Field this season, including games on Mother’s Day, Memorial Day weekend and July 4! Make plans to prepare for 2023 with chances to win big discounts and prizes during the Preseason Preview!


Beat-the-Clock
Starting at 11 A.M. on March 4, fans can once again Beat-the-Clock and save big on Opening Day tickets at the PNC Field Box Office.
Starting at 11, get Field Reserved tickets for Opening Day for $1.00 at the box office until 11:59:59 A.M.
From noon until 1 P.M., Opening Day Field Reserved tickets are just $2.00. From 1-2, those same tickets will be $3.00 each! This ticket offer is only valid in-person at the box office and the ticket discount is limited to eight tickets per person. Ticketing at PNC Field is all digital.


Treasure Hunt
Navigate PNC Field searching for clues to find treasure! This can’t-miss scavenger hunt will take you around the park and could lead to prizes, memorabilia and special offers if you find your way.
BP & Swing for Savings!
Take your Spring Training cuts with a round of batting practice. All ages are welcome to take some practice hacks in the RailRiders home batting cages.
Triple-A Affiliate of the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRidersPNC Field  235 Montage Mountain Road  Moosic, PA 18507  570-969-2255 www.swbrailriders.com
media advisory


This year, fans can Swing for Savings with a great offer on a new full season ticket membership. Take three swings and your highest velocity will be your discount on a full season membership. Hit a home run and you’ll get $150 off a full season ticket plan plus a free 2023 membership for the Toyota Power Zone (the new game day HitTrax club at PNC Field).


A $50 ticket membership deposit is required to Swing for Savings.
CHAMP’S Kids Club Membership Pick-up
CHAMP’s Kids Club members can pick up their official membership cards and gifts in the Geisinger Champions Club between 11-2. If you aren’t a member of CHAMP’S Kids Club, presented by Casey Dental, click here or sign your kids up during this preseason preview!


Trivia Challenge
Stop by the Geisinger Champions Club at 11:30 or 12:30 and test your knowledge will the RailRiders Trivia Challenge. Each game will last about 15 minutes, making sure you have time to enjoy everything going on at the ballpark. You’ll have the chance to win great prizes, like an Aaron Judge RSVLTS shirt, gift cards and autographed memorabilia.
Each game will consist of three rounds of trivial questions: SWB Baseball, Classic MLB and Name that Tune!


VIP Tours
Get a personal tour and see what we have to offer at PNC Field!
The RailRiders Team Store will be open from 11-2. Plus… Some new 2023 ballpark food options and beverages will be available for purchase.
Make plans to join us on Saturday, March 4, for the RailRiders Preseason Preview at PNC Field!

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders Announce Field Staff

Shelley Duncan’s first SWB field staff features five returnees from the 2022 staff and three newcomers

The New York Yankees have announced the field staff for each of their minor league affiliates. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders Manager Shelley Duncan will be joined in the dugout by Pitching Coach Graham Johnson, Hitting Coach Trevor Amicone and Athletic Trainer Jimmy Downam, each of whom returns for their second season at Triple-A.
José Javier joins the field staff this season as the club’s new Defensive Coach. Additionally, Ryan Williams is the new Strength & Conditioning Coach and Sullivan Lyons will be the team’s new Video & Travel Assistant.

Jim Billington and Nick Loeffelholz both return to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the same roles they held last season. Billington is the RailRiders’ Home Clubhouse Manager while Loeffelholz is the Advance Scouting Analyst.

New York announced Manager Shelley Duncan’s return to the organization on January 20. Duncan was drafted by the Yankees and appeared in 905 games while a Yankees’ farmhand. 2023 marks the fifth season in Duncan’s managerial career and the first at Triple-A for the 2009 International League Most Valuable Player.

Johnson, 37, served as the RailRiders Pitching Coach in 2022, providing tutelage to a staff that finished with an International League-best 3.89 ERA and the third-most strikeouts. He spent several seasons in the Houston Astros organization as a pitching coach in the lower levels of Minor League Baseball before joining the Yankees farm system last year. Johnson played at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, MO, before becoming a graduate assistant at Lindenwood University, completing his Master’s of Education with an emphasis in strength and conditioning degree in 2010. After a stint with Western Illinois University, he joined the staff at Morehead State. Johnson was the pitching coach for the Eagles from 2012-17 and also served as an assistant head coach, overseeing field maintenance and the academic development of all student-athletes involved in the baseball program.

Amicone, 35, also returns to the role he held in 2022 with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The RailRiders hit .249 last season with 173 home runs, though the club had the second-best batting average and fourth-best on-base percentage over the final 95 games of the 150-game slate. Amicone joined the Yankees organization in 2020 and spent last season with New York’s Dominican Summer League team. The Sandy, Utah, native has served as an assistant coach and camp coordinator for the Dixie State baseball program as well as the head baseball coach at Woods Cross High School in Utah. He has also worked privately with hitters at the professional, college, high school and youth levels. His father, Marc, is the General Manager of the Salt Lake Bees in the Pacific Coast League.

Javier, 30, will serve as the Defensive Coach for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was initially signed by New York as a non-drafted free agent in 2010 and played six seasons in the Yankees’ minor league system. 2023 will be Javier’s seventh season as a coach in the organization, having spent time at each level, including serving as the Defensive Coach for the Hudson Valley Renegades last year.
2023 marks Downam’s eleventh season with the Yankees as an Athletic Trainer and his second straight year in Triple-A. He joined the Yankees in 2013 as the trainer for Staten Island and also spent three seasons with Charleston from 2014 through 2016. Downam spent five seasons as New York’s Double-A trainer between time in Trenton and Somerset. He attended Liberty University, where he received his B.S. in Athletic Training in 2009 and an M.S. in sports administration in 2012.
Williams has spent the last two seasons with the Somerset Patriots as their Strength & Conditioning Coach. He is a 2019 graduate of Limestone University and interned at both the University of South Carolina Upstate and Campbell University. Williams also served as a strength & conditioning coach at Cressey Sports Performance before joining the Yankees organization.

Please direct all interview requests to Adam Marco, the Director of Communications for the RailRiders. He can be reached at (570) 558-4637 or via email at amarco@swbrailriders.com.

The RailRiders’ 2023 season begins at PNC Field on March 31 against the Buffalo Bisons. Season ticket memberships, including full, half, partial and flex plans, are available now. Visit www.swbrailriders.com for more information.

RailRiders Announce Promotions and New Hires

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are excited to announce key promotions and additions to their front office staff. Opening Day is March 31 and the team is gearing up for the new campaign with several promotions and hires across multiple departments.

“The 2023 season will be here before we know it and we are thrilled to promote several staff members while also adding talent to our staff,” said Katie Beekman, General Manager of the RailRiders. “Any new season in Minor League Baseball always brings some change in every front office. We believe these promotions will put our staff in a tremendous place to succeed. Our new hires are primarily focused on expanding our ticket and premium sales departments to improve customer service and make it easier for fans to enjoy a game at PNC Field.”

In December, Matt Hamilton was promoted to the role of Assistant General Manager. Kristina Knight was promoted to Senior Director, Partnership Management & Marketing. Ryan Long has been promoted to Senior Director of Stadium Operations and Dustin Spiegel is now the team’s Manager of Field Operations.

Hamilton joined the RailRiders staff before the 2022 season as the Vice President of Corporate Partnerships. He graduated from West Texas A&M University in 2010 and spent seven years as a news reporter and anchor before a transition to media sales. He joined the Amarillo Sod Poodles in 2018. In three seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks Double-A affiliate, Hamilton advanced from serving as a corporate partnerships executive to leading the department. In his new role with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Hamilton’s responsibilities will include overseeing corporate partnerships, premium sales, group sales and ticketing.

Knight joined the RailRiders front office team in January 2006 as a Ticket Account Executive. After the announcement of the New York Yankees affiliation, she was promoted to Group Sales Manager. After one year in Group Sales, she was named Sponsor Service Manager. She was then promoted to the position of Senior Sponsor Service Manager. In addition to handling sponsorship accounts and activations, she will oversee the RailRiders Marketing and Game Day Entertainment. She is a 2001 graduate of Riverside Jr./Sr. High School and in 2005 earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Bloomsburg University.

Long joined the RailRiders staff in January 2021 as Director of Ballpark Operations. He attended Lackawanna College, graduating with an Associate Degree in Sports Administration. He then went on to Misericordia, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Management. Long has over 15 years of experience, serving in buildings such as Comerica Park in Detroit, the American Airlines Center in Dallas and the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.

Spiegel has been with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre since the 2019 season as the Assistant Groundskeeper. Before joining the RailRiders, he spent three years in the same role for the Lexington Legends in the South Atlantic League. Spiegel is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Turfgrass Management.

In addition to these promotions, the RailRiders have added seven staff members to the front office over the last few months.

Patrick Cawley has rejoined the RailRiders front office as the Director of Finance. He is a 2002 graduate of Pittston Area High School and a graduate of Misericordia University. During his time at Misericordia University, he received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2007 and went on to complete his MBA in 2010. Cawley worked for SWB as their Senior Accountant from October 2020 through December 2021.

Mark Ambrose joined the RailRiders in December as an Account Executive in Season Ticket Sales. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sport and Recreation Management in 2021 and will finish his masters in Business Administration in 2023, earning both degrees from Keystone College. Ambrose, a Honesdale, PA, native was a member of the men’s basketball team as a walk-on from 2018 through 2021.

Colby Emma has been hired as a Group Sales Executive. He grew up in Scituate, Rhode Island. He attended Clarkson University, where he received his bachelor’s degree, as well as attending Northeastern University, where he received his master’s degree in Sports Leadership.

Spencer Barberree joins the staff as an Account Executive in Premium Sales. He is from Carlsbad, California, and after high school attended Texas A&M at Galveston, graduating in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Maritime Studies.

During the 2022 season or shortly after, Anthony Daniel, Krista Lutzick and Dan Ross were added to the front-office roster in full-time positions.

Daniel joined the RailRiders last summer as Account Executive in the Season Ticket Sales department. A native of Easton, PA, he attended East Stroudsburg University and majored in Sports Management. After graduating in 2021, he went on to work for Kevin Garnett’s Big Ticket Sports as their event operations intern.

Lutzick was a Community Relations Intern at the beginning of the 2022 season and was hired as the Community Relations Manager in August. Originally from Northeast Pennsylvania, she moved to Nashville in 2013 to attend Belmont University to study the music business. She graduated from Belmont University in 2016 and worked in the music industry for seven years. Lutzick will graduate with her Master of Science in Sport Management from Liberty University this spring.

Ross joined the franchise’s front office in January 2022 after serving as a sales intern for the 2021 season. In October, he was hired full-time as the Ticket Operations Manager. He is a native of Stroudsburg and attended East Stroudsburg University. Ross graduated from ESU in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management and a minor in Business Management.

For more information on these personnel moves or the upcoming season, please contact the RailRiders front office at (570) 969-2255 or visit swbrailriders.com. 

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders Announce New Manager

The New York Yankees have announced that Shelley Duncan has been named as the new manager for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Duncan re-joins the organization that drafted him and will lead the franchise that he won the International League MVP Award with in 2009. 

“We are extremely excited to bring Shelley Duncan back to the organization where he began his professional journey – and specifically back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre where he had tremendous success and was part of the 2009 International League Championship club,” said Kevin Reese, the Director of Player Development for the New York Yankees. “Shelley’s knowledge as well as his experiences growing up in the game, as a player and as a coach will serve our players well.”

Duncan, 43, was drafted by the Yankees in 2001; a second-round selection out of the University of Arizona. He reached Triple-A with Columbus in 2006 and spent portions of three seasons in an SWB Yankees uniform. Duncan appeared in 272 games for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre between 2007 and 2009. In ‘09, he hit .277 with 30 home runs and 99 runs batted in over 123 games, garnering the nod for IL MVP. His Major League career spanned 330 games for the Yankees, Cleveland and Tampa Bay over seven years.

“It means the world to me to return to the New York Yankees,” Duncan said. “The way I was taught the game of baseball at the professional level is the Yankee way. The values that have been instilled in me on how to play the game were established pretty much day one after I got drafted. Everywhere I have gone since my time with New York, I have taken those values and details on what makes a winning baseball player with me. I let them shape who I was as a player or who I am as a manager. To be able to come back to the organization is extremely special. Not only do I feel nostalgic about it, but it gives me a good feeling inside to go back to a place that matches all of those values that make me who I am as a baseball person.” 

“In the years since I left, the Yankees have evolved at a completely different level than any other team in baseball,” Duncan added. “In an era where we are being inundated with tons of data and information. Where technology is taking over the game with cameras all over the ballpark, being able to measure absolutely everything on the field, the Yankees are leading all of baseball in this evolution. This is something I’m so excited to be a part of; to learn things and see things I haven’t seen before from an organization that is leading the way in innovation.”

Duncan managed in the Arizona Diamondbacks system between 2015 and 2018, leading teams in Hillsboro, Visalia and Jackson. He led the Hops to the Northwest League title in 2015 and the Generals to the Southern League crown in 2018. Duncan’s managerial record stands at 231-199 over four seasons. Since leaving the Diamondbacks organization, he has served as the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Field Coordinator and as an Analytics Coordinator for the Chicago White Sox.

“We are thrilled to welcome Shelley back to NEPA and into the RailRiders dugout,” stated Katie Beekman, the team’s General Manager. “He was a fan-favorite when he played here and we haven’t forgotten his energy and passion for the game. This addition absolutely adds to the building excitement as the 2023 season approaches.”

Please direct interview or photo requests to Adam Marco. The remainder of the RailRiders 2023 field and support staff will be announced at a later time.

Opening Day is March 31 at PNC Field against the Buffalo Bisons. Ticket packages for the 2023 season are available now. To purchase tickets, please visit swbrailriders.com or contact a ticket sales representative at (570) 969-BALL.

SWB RailRiders’ Pinstripe Pals Program

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, in partnership with US Foods, are pleased to announce that the Pinstripe Pals program has returned in support of area youth softball and baseball leagues. Applications are being accepted now and 10 youth leagues will be selected for the program this year.

League representatives are encouraged to fill out the Pinstripe Pals application form and submit a 500-word (or less) essay describing why their league should be chosen. Each of the ten leagues selected will receive a $500 sponsorship from the RailRiders to assist in league expenses, as well as a $500 gift card courtesy of US Foods, which can be used to help teams pay for concession stand products and supplies. Applications are due by March 3.

Each league selected will have the opportunity to participate in a pre-game parade at PNC Field before a RailRiders home game and the opportunity for RailRiders assistance with league fundraising. Selected leagues will have a photo of their choice placed in the GuideRail game day program on their league’s designated night. One of the teams in each league will serve as the “Field of Dreams” club on that night and take the field with the RailRiders players.

Applications can be found on our website under the Community tab or upon request. Completed applications can be emailed to Robby Judge at rjudge@swbrailriders.com, faxed to (570) 963-6564 or mailed to:

SWB RailRiders

Attn: Pinstripe Pals

235 Montage Mountain Rd.

Moosic, PA 18507

Winning leagues will be announced on March 10. For more information on the Pinstripe Pals program, presented by US Foods, please contact Krista Lutzick or Robby Judge at (570) 969-2255. 

The 2023 season begins on March 31 at PNC Field with a three-game weekend set against the Buffalo Bisons.  Season ticket memberships and mini-plans are available now on www.swbrailriders.com.

Score Big Prizes with RailRiders Football Squares Promotion

With Super Bowl LVII only weeks away, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are bringing back a fan-favorite promotion with the chance to win great prizes. Fans can purchase flex plans, partial, half or full season memberships to get involved in the RailRiders Football Squares promotion with the opportunity to win big on February 12.
Chances to win occur with the score at the end of each quarter and at the end of the game. The scores will reward you with fun prizes and experiences in 2023. Squares correspond with the nuber of packages purchased, so buy multiple plans or memberships for more chances to win!
With the purchase of one flex plan, you will receive one square. If you purchase a partial season plan, you will receive two squares. A half-season plan will receive three squares and any full-season membership purchased will net four squares. All squares are placed at random. Winners are determined by looking at the last number in each team’s score at the end of each quarter and then matching those numbers on the grid and seeing which square intersects those two numbers.
Winning Outcomes:

Match the score at the end of the first quarter and win a RailRiders Beach Package including two beach chairs, two beach towels, two coolers, two Hawaiian Shirts and a $25 gift card to the SWB Team Store

Match the score at the end of the second quarter and you’ll receive a RailRiders Bobblehead Package featuring SIX bobbleheads- Nestor Cortes, Nick Swisher, Derek Jeter, Aaron Judge, Thor, and a Joe DiMaggio and Billy Martin dual bobblehead- PLUS a $25 gift card to the SWB Team Store.

Match the score at the end of the third quarter and win a RailRiders Legends Package that includes four tickets to a New York Yankees game, four Geisinger Champions Club tickets for April or May, a game-worn jersey, an autographed Legends Series bat and a $25 gift card to the SWB Team Store. • Match the score at the end of the fourth quarter and win the RailRiders Champions Package which includes four tickets to a New York Yankees game, four Geisinger Champions Club tickets for April or May, a game- worn jersey, a Ron Guidry autographed baseball and a $100 gift card to the SWB Team Store.

Should the game go to overtime and your square matches the final score after OT, you will win all four of the packages listed above.
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With Super Bowl LVII only weeks away, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are bringing back a fan-favorite promotion with the chance to win great prizes.  Fans can purchase flex plans, partial, half or full season memberships to get involved in the RailRiders Football Squares promotion with the opportunity to win big on February 12.

Chances to win occur with the score at the end of each quarter and at the end of the game.  The scores will reward you with fun prizes and experiences in 2023.  Squares correspond with the number of packages purchased, so buy multiple plans or memberships for more chances to win!

With the purchase of one flex plan, you will receive one square.  If you purchase a partial season plan, you will receive two squares. A half-season plan will receive three squares and any full-season membership purchased will net four squares. All squares are placed at random. Winners are determined by looking at the last number in each team’s score at the end of each quarter and then matching those numbers on the grid and seeing which square intersects those two numbers. 

Winning Outcomes:

  • Match the score at the end of the first quarter and win a RailRiders Beach Package including two beach chairs, two beach towels, two coolers, two Hawaiian Shirts and a $25 gift card to the SWB Team Store
  • Match the score at the end of the second quarter and you’ll receive a RailRiders Bobblehead Package featuring SIX bobbleheads- Nestor Cortes, Nick Swisher, Derek Jeter, Aaron Judge, Thor, and a Joe DiMaggio and Billy Martin dual bobblehead- PLUS a $25 gift card to the SWB Team Store.
  • Match the score at the end of the third quarter and win a RailRiders Legends Package that includes four tickets to a New York Yankees game, four Geisinger Champions Club tickets for April or May*, a game-worn jersey, an autographed Legends Series bat and a $25 gift card to the SWB Team Store.
  • Match the score at the end of the fourth quarter and win the RailRiders Champions Package which includes four tickets to a New York Yankees game, four Geisinger Champions Club tickets for April or May*, a game-worn jersey, a Ron Guidry autographed baseball and a $100 gift card to the SWB Team Store.

Should the game go to overtime and your square matches the final score after OT, you will win all four of the packages listed above.

*Additional terms, restrictions and conditions may apply. Please ask your sales representative to clarify any concerns.

Tickets packages for the 2023 season, both season ticket and flex plans, are available now and Football Squares are on a limited, first-come, first-served basis until Friday, February 10. For more information, please visit

swbrailriders.com or contact a ticket sales representative at (570) 969-BALL.

SWB RailRider Weissert Named International League Pitcher of the Year

Minor League Baseball announced its 2022 International League All-Stars and Greg Weissert was named as both the league’s Pitcher of the Year as well as the top relief pitcher. Weissert pitched in 42 games for the RailRiders this past season, going 2-1 with 18 saves and a 1.69 ERA while striking out 70 over 48 innings pitched.

Weissert is the first Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitcher to earn the top league honor in two decades. Brandon Duckworth and Joe Roa took the top pitching honors in 2001 and 2002, respectively. The last SWB pitcher to earn any year-end award was Jonathan Albaladejo after his 43-save season in 2010.

Weissert was selected by the New York Yankees in the 18th round of the 2016 draft and made his Major League debut in August.

Durham’s Jonathan Aranda was honored as the league’s Most Valuable Player while Nashville’s Rick Sweet took the Manager of the Year award. Norfolk’s Gunnar Henderson was named the league’s top MLB Prospect.

Season tickets for the 2023 campaign are available now. Visit swbrailriders.com for more information.