Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Announces Student MVP Program

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and NEPA Crane & Hauling are pleased to announce the Student MVP program is returning for the 2022-23 academic year. Local elementary school and middle school students can be honored and rewarded for their efforts during the current school year!

The Student MVP program uses the fun of RailRiders baseball as an incentive and reward system for students at no cost to schools, teachers or the students themselves. Teachers at participating schools will create criteria and help track students towards their goal of becoming an MVP. A limited number of MVP awards are available at each grade level in each school, helping incentivize and reward positive academic and behavioral development.

“NEPA Crane & Hauling is proud to team up with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and show our support to students in our local area,” said Jeff Keeney, the owner of NEPA Crane & Hauling. “Students today are faced with many challenges and often their hard work goes unnoticed.  NEPA Crane & Hauling is extremely proud of our local students for their hard work and dedication to their education, and we are cheering them on as they strive to reach their goals and chase their dreams.”

Each Student MVP will be honored at the RailRiders game on Friday, June 23, 2023. Additionally, each MVP will receive:

            • A Personalized Award Certificate signed by the RailRiders General Manager, CHAMP and completed by their teacher

            • A shout out on the video board during the game, welcoming all of our RailRiders Student MVPs attending the game

            • A special gift from NEPA Crane & Hauling and the RailRiders

Principals can register their schools by visiting www.milb.com/scranton-wb/community/studentmvp now.

The deadline to register is November 22, 2022. For more information, contact Krista Lutzick, the Community Relations Manager for the RailRiders, at klutzick@swbrailriders.com or by calling (570) 558-4616.

RailRiders Announce Details for Opening Night 2022

After a six-game trip to Syracuse to start the 2022 season, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders return to Moosic on April 12 for Opening Night against the Norfolk Tides. The RailRiders front office will welcome baseball back to NEPA with a massive Opening Night bash and fans will have the chance to walk away $10,000 richer!

Festivities begin at 3:00 P.M. as WBRE-TV broadcasts PA Live from PNC Field. Hosts Chris Bohanski and Rachel Malek will give the scoop on everything to expect at the ballpark this season!

The RailRiders FanFest starts at 4:30 P.M. with fun and games for all ages courtesy of PA Party Rental, including a dunk tank, giant Connect 4 and Giant Jenga, cornhole, an inflatable rock climbing wall, inflatable axe throwing and inflatable darts. DJ Gordo will spin the tunes, food and beverages will be available plus much more.

Gates open at 5:30 P.M. and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will have several guests on hand for commemorative first pitches to help start the 2022 home slate. Longtime WNEP-TV sports anchor Jim Coles, Regional President of PNC Bank Pete Danchak and West Scranton High and Penn State alum Matt McGloin will be in attendance to get things going

That’s when the fun really starts! Fans in attendance will have 10 chances at $10k.

During the game, the RailRiders faithful will have the opportunity to win along with a specific event designated for each inning. Register as you enter the ballpark during the FanFest and the RailRiders will select one fan at random from the entries for each inning. Selected individuals can win $10k if the in-game event listed below happens during their designated half inning.

Top of the 1st              RailRiders turn a Triple Play

Bottom of the 2nd        SWB hits Back-to-Back Home Runs

Top of the 3rd              Three Assists by the Second Baseman

Bottom of the 4th         RailRiders hit for a Team Cycle

Bottom of the 5th         A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Player hits a Grand Slam

Bottom of the 6th         SWB hits a Home Run off the Foul Pole

Bottom of the 7th         RailRiders score Exactly Seven Runs

Top of the 8th              SWB Pitchers Strike Out the Side on Nine Pitches

Top of the 9th              Three Assists by the Third Baseman

One additional fan will be selected before the game for the chance to win $10,000 if SWB’s starter throws a perfect game!

Terms and conditions apply. Visit swbrailriders.com for the complete contest rules and stipulations.

Opening Night 2022 is shaping up to be Off the Rails and the RailRiders can’t wait to see everyone back at PNC Field! For tickets or more information, please visit www.swbrailriders.com

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Announce 2022 Giveaways

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are pleased to announce their giveaways for the 2022 season. In addition to the great theme jerseys and nights already released, the RailRiders are excited to add 14 giveaways to the season-long fun coming to PNC Field.

All giveaways are for the first 2,500 fans through the gates, with exceptions made for kids-only giveaways three times this year. Gates will once again open one hour before first pitch, though Scranton/Wilkes-Barre full and half-season ticket members get in 15 minutes prior to the general public. All giveaway items are limited to one item per ticket purchased.

2022 RailRiders Giveaways

April 12- Magnetic Schedule Giveaway presented by Highmark

April 16- SWB Fidget Popper

April 30- Clear Fanny Pack courtesy of PNC Bank

May 14- SWB Pop Socket

May 28- RailRiders Camo Hat presented by MetLife

June 4- Copa de la Diversión – Vejigantes Pint Glass

June 19- Kid’s Arm Sleeve (First 500 children 12 & younger)

July 15- SWB Hawaiian Shirt

July 16- Copa de la Diversión- Replica Vejigantes jersey courtesy of La Tolteca

July 17- Kid’s Selfie Stick (First 500 children 12 & younger)

August 6- Thor Bobblehead presented by Geisinger

August 7- CHAMP Toothbrush Holder (First 500 children 12 & younger)

August 13- RailRiders Book Cover

September 17- SWB Trapper Hat

Additional promotions, theme nights and giveaways will be announced as the season approaches. All promotions and giveaways are subject to change.


Ticket memberships, including full, half and partial season plans, as well as a wide range of mini-plans, are on sale now and single-game tickets are available online at swbrailriders.com beginning at 10 A.M. on March 8.

RailRiders Set Custom Jersey Nights For 2022 Season

As the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders prepare for the 2022 season, the team is pleased to unveil its custom jersey nights slated for the upcoming schedule. The season begins on the road on April 5 with the home opener one week later at PNC Field. In addition to the daily promotions already announced, the RailRiders will wear five custom jerseys this season and each will be auctioned off to benefit local charities.

As part of a celebration of our Armed Forces, SWB will wear red, white and blue tops over Memorial Day weekend. The players will wear these jerseys again in July and the custom tops will be auctioned off over Independence weekend.

Villains be warned! Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond Night is June 3 at PNC Field. The RailRiders will wear custom Captain America-themed jerseys plus Captain America himself will be patrolling the concourse.

Pride Night is slated for June 16 with a jersey auction after that Thirsty Thursday game.

Paradise is found at PNC Field on July 15. That RailRiders will once again wear Margaritaville-inspired Hawaiian jerseys. Waste away and search for that lost shaker of salt with us and be sure the fireworks are to blame after the final out.

Calling all Super Heros! The RailRiders return to Marvel Universe on August 6 with custom Thor jerseys. The Asgardian God of Thunder will also make a guest appearance on the concourse for fan photos.

All jersey auctions in 2022 will be online through the Minor League Baseball auction site.

Ticket memberships, including full, half and partial season plans, as well as a wide range of mini-plans, are on sale now and single-game tickets are available online at swbrailriders.com beginning at 10 A.M. on March 8.

Follow March Madness and Win with the RailRiders

It’s nearly tournament time and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are marching on towards their 2022 season with the return of a fan-fav ticket promotion. The RailRiders are giving fans the opportunity to pair ticket packages purchased with teams from the NCAA men’s college tournament field for a chance to win.

Each new Full Season Ticket Membership purchased through March 16 will be paired with FOUR NCAA men’s tournament participants. Each Half Season Ticket Membership purchased will be paired with three teams. A Partial Plan purchase will net two teams in the tournament and any Mini-Plan will be assigned one corresponding team in the big dance. The team assignments will be done on Monday, March 14, after Selection Sunday via a random lottery pick system. Teams will be assigned on a per-seat basis rather than being limited to one per account.

If your designated team advances, you will be given the following prizes based on performance: Advance to the round of 32 to receive the FULL Legends Race Bobblehead Series (Both the Mantle & Munson Bobblehead AND the DiMaggio & Martin Bobblehead); advance to the Sweet 16 to receive a team hat with the classic SWB logo; advance to the Elite 8 to receive four tickets to Yankee Stadium (2 vouchers) and four Standing Room Only tickets to the Geisinger Champions Club level for a RailRiders game of their choice this season; advance to the Final 4 to receive a Roger Clemens autographed baseball, $25 gift certificate to theSWB Station Team Store and a game-worn RailRiders jersey.

One person will ride their team’s success all the way to the title. If your randomly-assigned team wins the NCAA Championship, you will take home an autographed Legend’s Series bat, a personalized RailRiders jersey, 50% off RailRiders suite May through September and a $100 gift card to the SWB Station Team Store.

The 2022 season opens on April 5 in Syracuse with the home opener on April 12 against the Norfolk Tides at PNC Field. Season ticket memberships and mini-plans are available now on www.swbrailriders.com and single-game tickets will be available beginning at 10 A.M. on March 8.

RailRiders add 13 Employees to Front Office for 2022 Season

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are pleased to announce key additions to their front office staff as the start of the 2022 season approaches. With the first pitch of the new campaign less than 100 days away, the RailRiders have added 13 new employees to the front office roster.

“We are excited to grow our staff in several key areas and in ways that positively impact our operation,” stated John Adams, Team President of the RailRiders. “We have had a strong core in place and are excited to add new energy to the front office. These new hires are spread across several departments like ticket sales, corporate partnerships and marketing, and should allow everyone on staff to reach their fullest potential.”

Matt Hamilton is the RailRiders new 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 heading up the department. Under his leadership, the Sod Poodles corporate partnerships grew revenue by over 25% while also retaining 99% of their partners despite the global pandemic.

Chris Hutson joined the RailRiders front office in October as the VP of Ticket Sales, Service and Operations. A native New Yorker, he has a wealth of sales and marketing experience at the team, league office, event and venue levels. He was the principal and co-founder of Turnstyles USA, the first-of-its-kind, multi-dimensional sales support agency that served clients across all major sports. Hutson has also worked for the NFL in a variety of roles as well as Spectacor Management Group, the Philadelphia 76ers and Madison Square Garden, where he directed sales for the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.

Holly Gumble is the new senior staff accountant. She is a graduate of Dallas High School and a 2010 graduate of West Chester University, where she earned her degree in Accounting.

Jordan Calvey is the RailRiders new Director of Marketing. She attended Abington Heights High School and is a 2014 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. She built her marketing and sports industry experience through working several Olympic Games with NBC Sports, and at marketing agencies, Inspira and Match Marketing. Calvey most recently spent two years with the U.S. Figure Skating Association in Colorado Springs as the Marketing Manager, where she led ticket sales growth and marketing for their tent pole events, managed organizational campaigns and drove brand awareness locally and nationally.

Katherine Arata has joined the staff as the Marketing Manager. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2019 and interned with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers and at the Astros/Nationals Spring Training Complex in West Palm Beach, Florida, after graduation. Arata spent the 2021 season with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies as the Director of Marketing and Promotions for the New York Mets Double-A affiliate.

Taylor Moy is the new Video Production Manager. A Queens, NYC native, she graduated from the University at Buffalo in 2019 with degrees in media and psychology. Before the start of her career in minor league baseball, she studied abroad in Spain and completed the Disney College Program. Moy spent 2021 with the Rumble Ponies as their video production assistant before becoming a production intern for the New York Giants.

Kirsten Peters is the RailRiders Social Media and Special Events Manager. She is a 2021 graduate of Wilkes University with degrees in communication studies, sports management and creative writing. While at Wilkes, Peters was the editor-in-chief of the student-run newspaper, The Beacon. She was also the program director of Wilkes’ student-run television show, Wilkes Now! She served as the baseball team’s intern for four seasons, keeping the scorebook, recording stats and acting as the team photographer. She added baseball social media director to her list of responsibilities in 2018.

Joshua Klein is a new Corporate Partnerships Manager for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. A native of Montville, NJ, he attended Susquehanna University, where he majored in broadcasting and was a member of the River Hawks Crew Club. After graduating in 2019, Klein worked for the Reading Fightin Phils as their Media Relations Intern/Social Media Coordinator. Following his time with Reading, he moved to Nevada and was the Communications Coordinator for the Reno Aces before the cancelation of the 2020 season.

Kate Mummert joins the front office as a Corporate Services Manager. She is a native of Dover, PA, and attended York College of Pennsylvania, graduating in 2021 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Management. Mummert spent the last three years in the Atlantic League working for the York Revolution in retail, ticketing and client services.

Anthony D’Andrea and Chris Kunzmann have joined the front office as group sales executives.

D’Andrea is a 2021 graduate of the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. The Norwalk, CT native completed social media and marketing internships with Adapting Social and Crowdpac, and served as an Athletics Marketing and Promotions intern for Monmouth University in 2021.

Kunzmann is a New Jersey native and a 2021 graduate of  Penn State. He has previously worked for the Penn State basketball team, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs as a Game Day Intern and the Philadelphia Eagles as a Ticket and Fan Services Intern.  

Brandon Brzenski is the club’s new Stadium Operations Manager after spending three seasons with the club as an intern. Brzenski attended Kutztown University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management in 2020. He also attended East Stroudsburg University and graduated in 2021 with a master’s degree in Sport Management.

In addition to the recent hires, Kyle Davis joined the RailRiders last summer as Account Executive Season Ticket Sales. A NEPA native, Davis was previously a Marketing/Services Intern with the team in 2018. He also interned with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins as the Game Day operations Intern and the Washington Wild Things as the Event/Operations Intern. Davis attended Temple University and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sport and Recreation 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.