SWB RailRiders Announce Grube as Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are pleased to announce the addition of Gerald Grube, Jr. to the front office staff as the Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships. The Roseto, Pennsylvania native joins the RailRiders after four and a half years in corporate partnership sales with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the American Hockey League. “Gerald will be an outstanding resource to enhance our staff,” said Shawn Reilly, the RailRiders President/ GM. “To add someone of his caliber to an already strong staff is a boon for the organization. Gerald brings extensive experience in corporate partnerships and sponsorship development. His work creating valuable partnerships is thoroughly impressive and we are excited to bring him back to NEPA.” Grube, Jr. graduated from Wilkes University and was a member of the Colonels’ 1994 Hall of Fame baseball team that claimed the MAC Championship. Throughout his career in sports and brand management, he has had the opportunity to work with premier organizations, including the AHL, IndyCar, NASCAR, UFC/ZUFFA, Bellator MMA and Oak View Group. Grube, Jr. has also collaborated with world-class athletes and globally recognized brands such as Mayweather Boxing, Mike Tyson, Caleb Plant, Badou Jack, Daniel Cormier, Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor, Frankie Edgar and Cowboy Cerrone. “I’m thrilled to join the RailRiders’ staff,” Grube, Jr. said. “Building meaningful connections has been central to my success, resulting in sponsorship revenue and long-term brand growth. I’m here to both create and strengthen partnerships, elevate the organization’s brand and contribute to sustained success at PNC Field.” 2026 RailRiders’ season tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit swbrailriders.com.
RailRiders Holding Game Day Staff Job Fairs in Janurary The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders will hold two game day staff job fairs in January as they prepare for the 2026 season. The job fairs will be held in the club level at PNC Field on Wednesday, January 21, from 5 to 7 P.M., and on Saturday, January 24, from 10 A.M. until 1 P.M. The home opener is slated for April 7, and the RailRiders are seeking game day employees for the upcoming season. Prospective employees will fill out applications and the SWB front office staff will do interviews on the spot during the job fair. “A great game day staff is crucial to a successful season,” stated Shawn Reilly, the RailRiders Team President/ General Manager. “We are looking for energetic individuals who want to help make the fan experience at PNC Field fun for all. We want a staff that will take pride in providing the best customer service so everyone knows what to expect when they come back to the park again and again.” Interviews for game day staff will begin at 5 P.M. on January 21 and at 10 A.M. on January 24. The RailRiders are looking for game day employees to fill numerous roles within the organization. Game day staff includes 50/50 fundraisers, bat boys/girls, box office attendants, Geisinger KidsZone attendants, grounds crew, guest services representatives, HitTrax attendants, parking attendants, premium/ club level attendants, security, ticket takers and video/ production assistants. The RailRiders are also seeking motivated and dynamic Pinstripe Patrol on-field promo team members, an emcee, mascot performers, ushers and ushertainers. An ushertainer is an usher focused on customer service while providing enhanced fun for their particular section in the ballpark. Legends Global, the official hospitality and merchandise provider of the RailRiders, will also conduct interviews at both job fairs. Legends Global is seeking cashiers, concessions cooks, prep cooks, suite attendants and retail associates. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age with working papers. Individuals will choose the open position that best suits their interests or needs, but may be considered for other positions based on availability. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation,
RailRiders Unveil 2026 CHAMP’S Home Run Readers Program The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and Red Robin are thrilled to announce a new reading program. CHAMP’S Home Run Readers is a premier reading program developed exclusively for elementary and middle schools in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and surrounding communities. This challenge will run from March 2 through March 22, 2026. CHAMP’S Home Run Readers are tasked with tracking their reading minutes outside of the classroom. While only at-home, out-of-school reading counts, this can include school curriculum books, self-chosen books, and both digital and print materials. A reader’s time can also include minutes a parent or guardian reads aloud to the student, encouraging family literacy. They believe in celebrating every milestone in reading. Prizes are awarded based on the student’s highest achievement tier. Each student who participates will receive a coupon courtesy of Red Robin. Single – Read under 400 minutes and receive a participation certificate. Double – Read at least 400 minutes and receive a participation certificate plus two tickets for a specified RailRiders game. Triple – Read at least 800 minutes and receive a participation certificate plus four tickets for a specified RailRiders game. Home Run – Read 1,300 or more minutes and receive a participation certificate plus four tickets for a specified RailRiders game, a first pitch at a specified RailRiders home game and a RailRiders t-shirt. Top Overall Reader: On-Field recognition at a RailRiders game, an autographed baseball PLUS a photo with CHAMP. Student tickets are redeemable on June 9 or June 10, 2026. All prizes are subject to change. CHAMP’S Home Run Readers efforts will be tracked by program coordinators at the student’s school. Each school will designate a program coordinator to assist in the process. Any teacher that has their classroom participate in this challenge, the Program Coordinator and Principal will be awarded a ticket voucher redeemable for four tickets to a 2026 RailRiders game. Some restrictions may apply, and seats are based on availability. The top five schools with the most student participation will receive a suite for a RailRiders game for 12 staff members (food and beverage not included) for a mutually agreed upon date. The top school will receive $250 towards a school Amazon Wish List. The deadline for registering is February 13, 2026. The RailRiders’ 2026 campaign begins on the road March 27 with the home opener at PNC Field scheduled for April 7. Season ticket memberships, including premium seating, full season, half season and partial plans, are on sale now. Learn more about CHAMP’S Home Run Readers, presented by Red Robin, online at swbrailriders.com or by calling (570) 969-2255.
SWB RailRiders Hosting Salvation Army Toy Drive The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, in conjunction with The Salvation Army, have announced that PNC Field will serve as a drop-off location for the Scranton Citadel Toy Drive. Fans can drop off new, unwrapped toys at the RailRiders Front Office from November 17 to December 12. The Front Office is open from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M., Monday through Friday, though it will be closed November 26 – 28 for Thanksgiving. Donate one new, unwrapped toy for The Salvation Army Scranton Citadel Toy Drive and receive one Zone C ticket voucher redeemable for any 2026 April or May RailRiders game at PNC Field. In 2024, local donations helped The Salvation Army serve 2,279 families, deliver over 2,500 toys and brighten the holidays for more than 700 children in our community. For more information, please call (570) 969-2255.
RailRiders To Host Emergency Food Drive The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are hosting an emergency food drive benefitting the Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank on Tuesday, November 11, in the Geisinger Plaza at PNC Field. Food collection will take place from 9 A.M. until 4 P.M. The RailRiders are asking for donations of non-perishable food items, including but not limited to canned vegetables, canned fruit, pasta, rice, canned proteins, canned soup, instant coffee and dry beans. The club requests that no items in glass containers be donated. As a token of appreciation, each individual who donates a shopping bag of items will receive one (1) Zone C ticket voucher redeemable for a 2026 regular season RailRiders game at PNC Field. For more information, please call (570) 969-2255.
SWB RailRiders Announce Banana Ball Games in 2026 Banana Ball is coming to PNC Field in 2026! The global phenomenon, made famous by the Savannah Bananas, will stop in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for two games on May 22 and 23. As revealed Thursday night during the 2026 Banana Ball City Selection Show, which aired on ESPN2, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has been selected as a tour stop for the brand-new Banana Ball Championship League (BBCL). PNC Field will host official league games featuring the Loco Beach Coconuts against the Firefighters. Fans must enter the ticket lottery at bananaball.com/tickets by October 31, 2025, for a chance to purchase tickets. Tickets will go on sale approximately two months prior to the scheduled event dates for those selected in the ticket lottery. Individual ticket sales for the games are being handled exclusively by Fans First Entertainment, the company that manages the Savannah Bananas and BBCL member teams. Standard tickets start at $35. Banana Ball has taken the sports world by storm, drawing millions of fans with its non-stop action, viral moments and unique rules – including a two-hour time limit, no bunting and fans catching foul balls for outs. The 2026 BBCL season will feature six teams playing 60 games across the country, all leading to a can’t- miss championship series in October. With dancing players, surprise guests and one-of-a-kind in-game antics, Banana Ball delivers an entertainment experience unlike anything else in sports.
SWB RailRiders: Duncan, Rojas and Winans Honored Trio win end-of-year accolades for 2025 efforts leading Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to IL playoffs. On Saturday night, Minor League Baseball™ announced the league awards and All-Star teams for the two leagues that make up the Triple-A classification in Major League Baseball’s player development system. Jose Rojas and Allan Winans were tabbed for end-of-season All-Star honors, while Shelley Duncan was selected as the International League Manager of the Year. Sixteen players across the International League were selected as All-Stars, including one at each position, one utility spot, four starting pitchers and two relievers. Additionally, three players and Duncan were honored with awards. Rojas, 32, was selected for the All-Star Utility spot after hitting .287 with 32 home runs and 105 runs batted in. He matched Jorge Vasquez’s 2011 franchise home run record and became only the second player in franchise history to drive in 100 or more runs in a season. Rojas finished the season with 35 doubles and set a new franchise mark with a .599 slugging percentage. Winans, 30, was tabbed as an All-Star starting pitcher. The right-hander went 12-1 with a 1.63 ERA over 21 appearances. In 99.1 innings of work, Winans struck out 105, walked 27 and had a 1.03 WHIP. The RailRiders went 20-1 in games that Winans appeared in. Duncan was named Manager of the Year after leading Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to an 87-win campaign in his third year at the helm, including a league-best 49 wins en route to a second-half crown. The 2009 IL MVP returned to the Yankees’ organization in 2023 to manage the RailRiders. In three seasons, Duncan has paced Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre to 249 wins and a .561 winning percentage. Click here to find more information.
SWB RailRiders Announce Shawn Reilly as President/ GM The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and Diamond Baseball Holdings are pleased to announce that Shawn Reilly has been welcomed as the new President/ General Manager of the RailRiders, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. Longtime GM Katie Beekman remains with the team and transitions to a new role as VP of Operations, providing the RailRiders front office with continuity and an enhanced leadership structure. “I am honored to join this outstanding franchise,” Reilly said. “For 36 years, this team in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has created lasting memories, including so many more this past season, while exemplifying the values of Minor League Baseball. I look forward to building on that tradition, meeting members of the community, and working to enhance the organization’s success while expanding the potential of RailRiders baseball throughout NEPA.” Reilly most recently served as President/ General Manager of the Frontier League’s New York Boulders. A co-founder and owner of the club since 2011, he helped establish the Boulders as one of the league’s flagship franchises. His baseball career began with the Niagara Falls Rapids in 1992. After leading the Jamestown Jammers in 1993, Reilly served as General Manager of the New York Mets’ Spring Training facility in Port St. Lucie for two years. Before returning to baseball, he spent 15 years as Senior Vice President at Core Communities in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where he played a key role in developing the nationally recognized master-planned communities of St. Lucie West and Tradition. A native of Niagara Falls, New York, Reilly earned his MBA from Niagara University. “We’re excited to welcome Shawn Reilly to the RailRiders. He brings a distinguished track record of leadership in professional baseball and community development, and we’re confident he will build upon the strong foundation already established in Northeast Pennsylvania,” said Pat Battle and Peter Freund, Executive Chairman and CEO of DBH, respectively. “We also want to recognize Katie Beekman for her exemplary service and steadfast leadership as General Manager. We’re grateful she will continue to lend her experience and expertise as VP of Operations. With Shawn’s vision and Katie’s ongoing contributions, the RailRiders are exceptionally well-positioned to set the standard for a best-in-class Triple-A franchise.” Beekman will continue to build on her 15 years with the RailRiders as she transitions to her role as VP of Operations. She remains in a senior leadership role while continuing to oversee PNC Field, focusing on key partners and developing the club’s relationship with the New York Yankees. This new position also allows Beekman more flexibility and opportunity to spend time with her family, a rarity in Minor League Baseball. “I’ve been working in sports for more than 25 years,” Beekman said. “My favorite part has always been finding ways to bring families together to make memories, but all those late nights under the lights and early morning tarp pulls have meant missing some of the big things with my own family. I’m excited that my new role will allow me to continue to do what I love and offers more flexibility for my work-life balance.” Click here for more information.
RailRiders Hosting Game 2 Watch Party at PNC Field Scranton/Wilkes-Barre leads Jacksonville 1-0 in best-of-three International League Championship Series The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are hosting a watch party in the Geisinger Champions Club tonight for Game 2 of the International League Championship Series. The RailRiders beat the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 5-4 in 10 innings on Tuesday night to take a 1-0 lead in this best-of-three set and can clinch the third International League title in franchise history with a win tonight. Tonight’s watch party is open to the public and presented by PrimoHoagies. Doors open at 6:30 P.M. with a first pitch slated for 7:05 at Jacksonville’s VyStar Ballpark. The game will be broadcast on the video board and throughout the Geisinger Champions Club. A cash bar will be available. Additional food and drinks will be available for purchase. With a win this evening, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre would claim its first title since 2016 and advance to the Triple-A National Championship Game on Saturday, September 27, in Las Vegas.
