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.
SWB RailRiders Broadcaster Honored by Ballpark Digest Ballpark Digest has named Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders voice Adam Marco as the 2022 Minor League Baseball Broadcaster of the Year. The publication annually honors the best achievements from across the industry and Marco is the second Scranton/Wilkes-Barre broadcaster to win this prestigious award. “If I had Adam’s skill set, I would have a much easier time articulating just how deserving he is of the award,” said Katie Beekman, the RailRiders General Manager. “His unwavering dedication to his craft, his quick wit and his vast knowledge of the game make him the perfect candidate for this award. The RailRiders are so proud of his accomplishments and we hope to enjoy his talents for many years to come.” Marco has broadcast over 1,500 Minor League Baseball games in his career. He joined the RailRiders in 2018 as the fourth lead voice in team history. A 2001 graduate of Mercyhurst College, Marco worked in terrestrial radio for seven years before starting in baseball in 2007 with the Williamsport Crosscutters. After two seasons with the Oklahoma City RedHawks, he became the broadcaster of the West Virginia Power. Over eight seasons with the Power, he also served as a group sales and corporate sales representative before taking on the club’s Director of Marketing role in 2014. Marco was honored by the South Atlantic League as their Media Relations Director of the Year that same year. He replaced former SWB broadcaster and current Cincinnati Reds voice John Sadak in 2018. Sadak won this honor from Ballpark Digest in 2013 after the RailRiders inaugural season at the revamped PNC Field, which earned their praise that season as Ballpark of the Year. Since 2018, Marco has also served the team in various roles, ranging from marketing to sales to promotions while handling the RailRiders media relations and maintaining the club’s website. “Broadcaster of the Year is one of the most important industry awards we present—broadcasters are the public face of every baseball team, so we take our decision very seriously,” said Kevin Reichard, Ballpark Digest publisher. “Adam Marco is one of the best in the business. He calls a great game, but beyond that he’s an integral part of the RailRiders’ success in many ways not seen by fans. We’re honored to recognize his accomplishments.” The RailRiders open to the 2023 season at home on March 31. Season tickets are available at swbrailriders.com or call (570) 969-2255 for more information.
SWB RailRiders Sets 2023 Home Game Times The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, have announced their home game times for the 2023 season. The new campaign starts on March 31 and the 150-game slate runs through September 24, including 75 games at PNC Field in Moosic. The first pitch for all but two weeknight games throughout the season will be at 6:35 P.M. Saturday games in April and May will start at 4:05 P.M. and shift to 6:05 starting on June 10 for the remainder of the summer. All Sunday games will begin at 1:05 P.M. in 2023. Games on May 9 and 23 will have a 6:05 P.M. first pitch. The RailRiders will host two school day games in 2023 with 11:05 A.M. start times. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre hosts Omaha on Wednesday, May 10, and Worcester on Wednesday, May 24, in the early games. The final Saturday game of the home schedule, September 16 against Buffalo, is set with a 4:05 P.M. start. Promotions and giveaways will be announced at a later time and all game times are subject to change. Season ticket memberships, including full, half, partial and a flex plan are on sale now. Find more information online at swbrailriders.com or by calling (570) 969-2255.
The Railriders New Opportunity With Marvel and MiLB On the eve of the Major League Baseball’s Postseason, where baseball’s heroes shine bright, Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) and Marvel Entertainment today began releasing the team logos designed by Marvel’s legendary illustrators for the 96 teams participating in the “Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond” special event and content series. The Marvel-created logos featuring MiLB teams’ unique brands and mascots will be worn on-field for the first time in 2023. The initial release commenced today at Marvel Entertainment’s booth at New York Comic Con inside the Javits Center in Manhattan. The first eight MiLB team logos unveiled include the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, Durham Bulls and El Paso Chihuahuas, the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats, Midland RockHounds and Somerset Patriots, the High-A Lansing Lugnuts and the Class-A Stockton Ports. After today’s launch, MiLB and Marvel will unveil new logos from the “Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond” program throughout October and November until all 96 Marvel creations have been revealed, culminating with MiLB.com’s exclusive merchandise launch, including the New Era Cap Co. on-field game caps, on Friday, November 18, 2022. MiLB and Marvel first introduced the “Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond” three-year partnership last October, hinting at numerous opportunities to collaborate and co-create content for both sports and comic fans. “The first phase of MiLB’s groundbreaking partnership with Marvel Entertainment delivered on our promise to bring our unique brand of fun and entertainment to more fans across the country,” said Kurt Hunzeker, Major League Baseball’s Vice President of Minor League Business Operations. “When you combine the creative power of these two storied brands, the promotions, events, and now merchandise fans will see in ballparks and retail stores in the years ahead will create memories that will be passed from generation to generation, and we are beyond excited to share these new team-specific logos and characters Marvel created as we build excitement for the 2023 baseball season.” All 96 participating MiLB teams will wear full uniforms featuring the Marvel-designed logos for at least one “Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond”-themed game in 2023 and 2024. Additionally, Marvel has created a “Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond” comic book series for MiLB fans that will be distributed in participating MiLB ballparks throughout the next two seasons.
RailRiders 2023 Season Schedule The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are pleased to announce their schedule for the 2023 season. The RailRiders will open their season on March 31 with a three-game homestand and conclude their second straight 150-game schedule on the road on September 24, split evenly with 75 games at home and 75 on the road. “While we watch an exciting end to the 2022 season, we are also thrilled to start planning for 2023,” said Katie Beekman, the RailRiders General Manager. “The schedule release now gives our fans a chance to watch some great games over the month ahead while thinking about the next wave of talent ready to represent Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and the New York Yankees. It also gives us the momentum to start thinking about how we can make the 2023 season even better than what we experienced this year.” The 2023 schedule is comprised of 24 six-game series and two three-game sets. The RailRiders will play 132 games against teams from the International League’s East Division and 18 against clubs from the West. The RailRiders meet teams from the old iteration of the IL North for 117 games out of the 150 scheduled. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre plays Buffalo (Toronto affiliate) 21 times and has 24 games apiece against Lehigh Valley (Philadelphia), Rochester (Washington), Syracuse (New York Mets) and Worcester (Boston). The RailRiders will host Omaha, marking the first trip to Moosic for the Kansas City affiliate since 1990, and Norfolk (Baltimore) for six-game sets while traveling to St. Paul (Minnesota) for the second straight year and hitting up Charlotte (Chicago White Sox) and Columbus (Cleveland) for the first time since 2019. Highlights of the 2023 regular season schedule include: March 31 thru April 2: Opening Weekend at PNC Field against Buffalo April 18 thru 30: A 12-game road trip to St.Paul and Worcester. The RailRiders will visit the Saints for the second straight season. May 2 thru 14: A two-week homestand with Rochester and Omaha coming to town, marking the first time the Kansas City Royals Triple-A affiliate plays in Moosic since 1990. May 16 thru 21: First SWB trip to Charlotte since August 2019 June 6 thru 11: Norfolk returns to PNC Field for the second straight season as Baltimore boasts one of the top farm systems in baseball. June 28 thru July 3: Six-game series at Syracuse ending on Monday, July 3 July 4 thru 9: Lehigh Valley heads to PNC Field starting a set on Independence Day July 14 thru 16: The RailRiders post-MLB All-Star break series takes the club to Norfolk for a three-game set. August 1 thru 13: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre hosts Rochester and Syracuse in a two-week homestand. August 22 thru 27: The IronPigs return to Moosic for the final IronRail series of the season and the second-to-last homestand of the regular season. August 29 thru September 10: SWB heads to Rochester and Columbus for the last long road trip of the season. September 12 thru 17: The RailRiders host Buffalo in the final homestand of the season. September 19 thru 24: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s final road trip brings the regular season to a close in Syracuse.
RailRiders Sweep Weekly International League Awards The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders swept the International League awards for the week of June 27 through July 3. Outfielder Estevan Florial and left-handed pitcher Matt Krook were tabbed by Minor League Baseball as the best-of-the-best for their efforts as the Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, respectively. Florial hit .550, playing in all six games with 11 hits over 20 at bats. He his four home runs, including two on Saturday night, drove in seven, scored ten times and stole three bases while helping pace the RailRiders’ offense to a series sweep against Buffalo. Florial, 24, was signed by the Yankees in 2015 and made his Major League debut in 2020. This season, the Barahona, Doinican Republic native sports a team-best .311 batting average with nine home runs, a team-high 28 runs batted in and leads the international league with 28 stolen bases. Krook pitched 7.2 perfect innings on Friday evening as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre beat Buffalo 8-1. The lefty struck out 10 and didn’t allow a hit until an infield single in the eighth. Krook, 27, is a native of Hillsborough, CA, and was selected in the Triple-A phase of the 2020 Rule 5 Draft from the Tampa Bay Rays. He has gone 4-6 this season with a 4.01 ERA. The southpaw has 90 strikeouts over 74 inning pitched, good enough for second among all International League pitchers this season. Florial and Krook are the first Scranton/Wilkes-Barre players to be honored by the International League this season. The RailRiders are on the road in Worcester this week. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre returns to PNC Field on Tuesday, July 12, to host the Louisville Bats. Tickets and promotional information can be found on www.swbrailriders.com.
RailRiders Bring Back READing RailRoad Program The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are pleased to announce the return of their READing RailRoad program this spring and summer courtesy of Red Robin. READing RailRoad allows children aged 4-13 the chance to read five books and be rewarded for their work with a free ticket to an upcoming home game at PNC Field and a coupon from Red Robin. “The READing RailRoad is a simple way to keep your child reading outside of their school,” stated Jordan Steiner, the RailRiders Director of Community Relations. “We all know how rewarding sitting down with a book already is and this is a great way to add some fun and incentive plus a sense of accomplishment doing just that!” Printable bookmarks are available on the Community tab of swbrailriders.com or physical copies are available at any of the participating libraries in the area. Those libraries are: Abington Community Library Osterhout Free Library Clymer Library Pike County Public Library Hazleton Area Public Library Pittston Memorial Library Hoyt Library Taylor Community Library North Pocono Public Library Tunkhannock Public Library Parents/Guardians must register their child or children by sending their name, their child’s name, phone number, and mailing address to communityrelations@swbrailriders.com. As each book is finished, the reading log on the bookmark must be completed and the parent/guardian must initial each numbered box. When all five books are read, parents must send a completed copy or photo of the bookmark to communityrelations@swbrailriders.com. The ticket link to redeem one free Field Reserved ticket per participant will be emailed to the parent/guardian once the child has completed the five books and submitted proof. Additional tickets for friends and family will be available for purchase through the link. All tickets are digital and there is a limit of one (1) Field Reserved ticket per child who participated. There is also a limit of one (1) bookmark per child this season. The ticket voucher is redeemable for any 2022 regular season home game – tickets and seating are subject to availability. The coupon for Red Robin is good for a free kid’s meal with the purchase of any adult item. For more information or to print the bookmark, visit swbrailriders.com.
