Escarra honored as International League’s Player of the Week Catcher JC Escarra hit six home runs and drove in 12 to help pace SWB in Syracuse. Minor League Baseball has announced its weekly awards for September 2-8 and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s JC Escarra was tabbed as the International League’s Player of the Week. The RailRiders won five-out-of six games in their road series at the Syracuse Mets last week thanks, in large part, to Escarra’s efforts. Escarra went 8-for-17 to bat .471 in five games. The lefty hit six home runs to help drive in a dozen runs, a fifth of the RailRiders runs scored in the series. He also scored nine of his own while walking three times. In the series opener, he doubled and walked before homering in his final plate appearance of the evening. He began Wednesday’s contest with another two long balls, recording one in three consecutive at-bats. The 29-year-old swatted home runs on Friday and Saturday, again in his first at-bats of the day. In the series finale, Escarra launched a grand slam for his sixth homer of the week. Escarra was originally selected by Baltimore in the 15th round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft. After being released before the 2022 season, he played in independent ball and internationally before New York signed him as a free agent in 2024. Escarra began the season with Double-A Somerset before being promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 19. He has played in 41 games for the RailRiders, working a .305 average. Escarra has split time between catcher, his primary position, and first base. He averages around a 20% caught stealing rate. Escarra joins Pitchers-of-the-Week Clayton Beeter (April 8-14) and Edgar Barclay (July 29 – August 4) as RailRiders’ IL weekly honorees this year. Escarra is the first SWB position player to nab a weekly award since Estevan Florial in late June to early July of the 2022 season. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre begins its final homestand of the 2024 season Tuesday night against Lehigh Valley. The RailRiders are four games back of the Columbus Clippers heading into the final two series of the season. For tickets to games against the IronPigs this week or for promotional information, visit swbrailriders.com or call (570) 969-2255.
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 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.
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.
