Cosmic Baseball coming to PNC Field Cosmic Baseball, an immersive, blacklight entertainment baseball experience, has announced the 2027 touring schedule across 44 Minor League Baseball (MiLB) stadiums, including PNC Field in Moosic. The Cosmic Takeover Tour: Baseball brings high energy entertainment that blends professional baseball with a full-scale neon phenomenon. Building off a massive 2026 tour that featured 74 sold out games across 30 markets and welcomed over 750K fans, resulting in a 400% increase over the inaugural 2025 tour, the 2027 expands production with new in-game features, including a 360-degree fireworks display. Each game showcases the flagship team, the Cosmic Chili Peppers, and their rivals, the Glow Mojis, competing while transforming the ballpark into a nighttime performance fueled by black lights, UV-reactive gear, live DJ, interactive fan engagement. More information regarding dates and ticketing will be announced soon. In the meantime, fans are encouraged to join the ticket lottery today for the chance to purchase tickets to experience Cosmic Baseball at PNC Field. Fans can also stay up to date on news regarding Cosmic Baseball by following the teams on their social media handles below or visiting https://chilipeppersbaseball.com.
Cornielle named August International League Pitcher of the Month Minor League Baseball has announced its monthly awards for August and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Alexander Cornielle was named the International League’s Pitcher of the Month. He capped off the month with an eight- inning shutout against Worcester to earn the weekly award as well. Cornielle has been getting stronger and more efficient with each month after beginning the season on the 60-Day Injured List. In August, he boasted a 1.50 ERA through five starts, totaling 25 strikeouts with just ten walks issued. The right-hander pitched 24.0 innings during this time, allowing just four earned runs. Cornielle is the only Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitcher who has completed the eighth frame this season. The 25-year-old has lowered his ERA to 2.70 in 60.0 innings of work. He has made 14 appearances, 13 starts, with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, racking up 59 strikeouts compared to just 31 walks. He holds a .219 average against in Triple-A. Cornielle joins Brendan Beck as an IL monthly award winner in 2026. It marks the first time in team history that two players have been honored with a monthly award in a single season. Will Warren, Michael King, and Brandon Duckworth have also earned the distinction in their respective Triple-A time with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre continues its series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at PNC Field. The RailRiders have just two more weeks before they wrap up for the summer. For more information on the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders visit www.swbrailriders.com.
SWB RailRiders hosting 90s Night with Chris Kirkpatrick Chris Kirkpatrick of NSYNC will headline the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders’ 90s Night at PNC Field on August 22. The team will play the Charlotte Knights at 6:05 pm that night. Gates open at 5:00 pm with a classic 90s gear giveaway (a throwback Red Barons replica jersey) for the first 1,500 fans. Kirkpatrick will be there for a VIP Meet & Greet and autograph session. The VIP experience includes a meet & greet with Kirkpatrick and a signed photograph. VIPs will also get a premium infield box seat when they buy the $75 meet & greet ticket. Kirkpatrick will also sign autographs and take pictures with fans on the concourse during the game. There will be a post-game fireworks show, and DJ Hersh will play all your favorite 90s hits on the Geisinger Plaza. You can find more information about Chris Kirkpatrick Meet & Greet tickets here.
SWB RailRiders, Actor Steve Schirippa Coming To PNC Field On July 18 We’re not sure Quasimodo predicted all this, but we do know that acclaimed actor Steve Schirippa is making a guest appearance at PNC Field on Saturday, July 18. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are thrilled to announce that the legendary actor who portrayed Bobby Bacala on TheSopranos is destined for a VIP appearance when the RailRiders host the Worcester Red Sox. Gates open at 5:30 P.M. with a Steve Schirippa Bobblehead Giveaway for the first 1,500 fans, honoring his iconic character’s love of the trains. First pitch is slated for 6:35 P.M. In addition to 53 episodes on the HBO hit show, Schirippa appeared in 146 episodes of Blue Bloods and 110 episodes of The Secret Life of the American Teenager among his numerous credits. He is also a New York Times best-selling author with such titles as A Goomba’s Guide to Life and Nicky Duece to his credit, along with cowriting Woke Up This Morning: The Definitive Oral History of The Sopranos. The VIP Meet & Greet begins at 5 P.M. in the Geisinger Champions Club. Hear behind-the-scenes stories and some of his goomba life lessons! VIP Meet & Greet tickets include a Premium Infield Box ticket, an autographed photo with Schirippa, and guaranteed bobblehead Schirippa will sign autographs on the concourse after the game begins. After the final out, stick around for the best fireworks show in NEPA! For Steve Schirippa VIP Meet & Greet tickets or more information, please visit swbrailriders.com
SWB RailRiders, Cosmic Baseball Adds A Third PNC Field Game To September Tour Stop The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and Cosmic Baseball are thrilled to announce a third night for the immersive, neon-lit baseball experience! Due to popular demand, the Cosmic Chili Peppers and Glow Mojis will now play at PNC Field from September 10 through 12. Tickets for the initial date, September 12, sold out in four hours, prompting additional nights. Fans can once again enter the Cosmic Ticket Lottery for a chance to purchase tickets. Fans can watch the Cosmic Baseball Tour at PNC Field by entering the ticket lottery and selecting “Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders” on the dropdown menu. Fans who entered the lottery will be selected at random to purchase their tickets. Those selected will receive a designated time slot to purchase tickets via an email from Cosmic Baseball. RailRiders season ticket members will be given priority seating opportunities. As seen on The Today Show, ABC News, Sports Illustrated, MLB Network, and many more, Cosmic Baseball is flipping America’s favorite pastime on its head with an electrifying, black light twist. Fans can watch two professional Cosmic teams: The Cosmic Chili Peppers and The Glow Mojis take the field under black light in a jaw-dropping spectacle. The show is part baseball, part neon-fueled party, and 100% unforgettable. Neon uniforms, UV-reactive baseballs, and electrifying entertainment make Cosmic Baseball a must-see event. Fans can stay up to date with news regarding the PNC Field tour stop by following @gochilipeppers and @goglowmojis on Instagram or by visiting https://chilipeppersbaseball.com. For more information on the RailRiders 2026 season and promotional nights, call (570) 969-BALL or visitswbrailriders.com.
SWB RailRiders, CHAMP’S Home Run Readers Log Over 3.5 Million Minutes The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are thrilled to announce the results of CHAMP’s Home Run Readers, a new 2026 program presented by Red Robin. Over the course of March, 4,784 students participated in CHAMP’S Home Run Readers, amassing a total of 3,537,740 minutes read. “You cannot be impressed enough by the effort of these local readers,” stated Shawn Reilly, the RailRiders’ Team President & General Manager. “A three-week program with a variety of benchmarks set the goal. These readers took the time to put in the work, and the result was unbelievable. Truly impressive!” Students were tasked with at-home reading from March 2 through 22. This included school curriculum books, self-chosen books, and both digital and print materials. Minutes could also include time for a parent or guardian to read aloud to the student, encouraging family literacy. All students who participated received a certificate. Students who logged 400 to 800 minutes also earned two free tickets to a game on June 9 or 10. Participants who read 800 to 1,300 minutes earned four free tickets to one of those games. Students who read 1,300 or more minutes also earned a free t-shirt and the opportunity to join their fellow readers on-field for a simultaneous first pitch, which had students lined up around PNC Field on both nights, upwards of 250-plus readers per night throwing to their parent or guardian. Elena Bartron was the top overall reader, recording 13,097 minutes read. She received an autographed baseball and threw a ceremonial first pitch on June 10. Tunkhannock Area Intermediate Center logged the most student participation of any area school. “The RailRiders reading incentive program was a huge hit!” said Jaime LaChase, who served as the program coordinator for Tunkhannock Area Intermediate Center. “Our students were engaged in reading and worked hard to accomplish the goals set by the RailRiders’ team. It was such a great way to get our students reading!Our school had 313 of 750 students participate and read well over 300,000 minutes. We look forward to doing this program again next year.”
SWB RailRiders, Elm Auto Service Selected As The 2026 Going To Bat For Small Business Winner The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, in conjunction with PNC Bank, are thrilled to announce that Elm Auto Service is the recipient of the 2026 Going to Bat for Small Business award. “Small businesses are the engine that propels our local economy,” said Annmarie Andrejko, PNC regional president for Northeast Pennsylvania. “Consistency, discipline, and long-term growth are the foundation upon which successful businesses are built. That dependability drives lasting success, and it’s why we’re proud to work with the RailRiders to ‘Go to Bat’ in support of entrepreneurs in the region.” The initiative highlights an NEPA small business that has made a positive impact within the community. The program gives the award-winning small business a boost by leveraging the RailRiders’ powerful platform to promote it. Going to Bat for Small Business, presented by PNC, will spotlight Elm Auto Service with a specialized RailRiders marketing package and hospitality night, including a first pitch at PNC Field, a suite night, social media, and website recognition. Elm Auto Service will be honored as part of a pregame ceremony at PNC Field on July 21. “I am truly honored to receive this award and grateful to be recognized,” said Claudia Torres, owner of Elm Auto Service. “Alongside many dedicated individuals, having the opportunity to be recognized at PNC Field makes this moment even more special. I look forward to celebrating with my family, friends, and the community.” “Elm Auto Service epitomizes the traits of a standout local small business,” stated Shawn Reilly, the RailRiders’ Team President & General Manager. “Claudia and her staff have thrived on providing excellent repair services to their customers. Their work helps keep NEPA safer and makes our community stronger.”
RailRiders, Beck Honored By International League After No-Hit Effort Minor League Baseball has announced its weekly awards for June 1-7, and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Brendan Beck was honored as the International League’s Pitcher of the Week. The right-hander worked seven hitless innings on Friday, June 5, against the Syracuse Mets, combining with reliever Carson Coleman for the seventh no-hitter in franchise history. Beck faced 24 batters, striking out six and walking three on 93 pitches on Friday night before handing the ball to Coleman. The reliever worked a perfect eighth and walked a batter in the ninth before inducing a game-ending double play to seal the RailRiders’ first no-hitter since August of 2021. Beck is 5-2 with a 3.55 ERA after his outing on Friday and has been tabbed as the IL Pitcher of the Week for a second time this season, having also earned the distinction in early May. He has 66 strikeouts and 21 walks over 66 innings of work for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season. Beck also made his Major League debut last month, working three frames for the Yankees on May 7. The 27-year-old was selected by the Yankees in the 2nd round of the 2021 draft out of Stanford University.
RailRiders Announce Fernández as Player of the Week Minor League Baseball has announced its weekly awards for May 18-24 and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Yanquiel Fernández was tabbed as the International League’s Player of the Week. Fernández batted .379 while playing in all six games in right field for the RailRiders. Fernández went 11-for-29 against the IronPigs, recording the most hits on the week in the entire International League. In addition, the power hitter smoked four homers and batted in twelve runs – both tied for most in the league. He also scored five runs of his own and stole a bag. The lefty, who began the season on Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s roster, holds a .270 batting average on the season after 43 games. He has six doubles, one triple, and thirteen home runs. Fernández leads the RailRiders in long balls and is tied for second most in the entire Yankees farm system. His 37 total RBIs are also tied for fourth most, both among Yankees’ minor leaguers and International League players. The 23-year-old was claimed off of waivers by New York from Colorado back in February. Fernández received the invite to Yankees Spring Training, garnering five hits while playing in parts of 15 games. He was originally signed by the Rockies as a Minor League Free Agent on July 12, 2019. In 2025, he played in 52 games for the big-league club after making his Major League Debut on July 2. Fernández launched his first home run off of Yohan Ramírez of Pittsburgh. Fernández is the second RailRider to earn honors this season after Yankees #21 prospect Brendan Beck was recognized last week. The last position player for SWB to bring home this award was Jose Rojas in 2025 for his work during in a late August series.
RailRiders To Host Andy Buckley Appearance At May 29 Game Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders will welcome Andy Buckley for a special appearance during the Friday, May 29 game at 7:05 p.m. Best known for his role as David Wallace on the hit television series The Office, Buckley will participate in a VIP fan experience at the ballpark. The VIP package is available for $75 and includes one infield box ticket, a meet-and-greet opportunity, an autographed photo, post-game fireworks, and Kids Run the Bases following the game. Fans are encouraged to reserve tickets early for the special event experience.
