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MOOSIC — Last season, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders tied for the most wins in the International League with 89. However, they had nothing to show for it because of the league season being split into halves with only the winners advancing to the postseason.
Manager Shelley Duncan said that’s in the past. There’s no extra motivation. A new season begins Friday at 6:05 p.m. at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown against the rival Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
“The beauty of this sport is that every single year, it’s a new team, new year,” Duncan said Thursday at RailRiders Media Day at PNC Field. “You don’t think about last year. Last year was a year for the guys on that team to celebrate. When that year was over with, it was over with. There’s nothing really to carry on from it. The players that were on that team can build from those memories and learn from those experiences. But all in all, it’s a different group of guys, it’s a different dynamic in the clubhouse. It’s going to be a different year.
“These players are going to go through different experiences, different challenges, different adversities to face. We don’t take much from last year. We did have a lot of wins, it was a lot of fun. It’s always fun to be part of a winning team. The players in this clubhouse know that and we’re going to try to have that same feeling this year.”
Lefthanded pitcher Brandon Leibrandt will start Friday’s opener for the RailRiders. The 32-year-old is the son of former major league pitcher Charlie Leibrandt, who won 140 games over 14 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers.
“You’re going to see a veteran pitcher who understands how to pitch,” Duncan said. “He executes pitches really well, is crafty, in and out, front and back, keeps hitters off-balance. He’s frustrating for a lot of hitters, he’s efficient with his pitches. He’s a lot of fun to watch as a pitcher.”
Entering his 12th year of professional ball, Leibrandt said he couldn’t recall getting an Opening Day start. He spent last season with the Louisville Bats and had a 3-4 record with a 4.41 earned-run average in 17 starts. He struck out 80 in 83.2 innings. He also appeared in two games with the Cincinnati Reds.
Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth round in 2014, Leibrandt pitched two seasons (2017, 2018) with Lehigh Valley. So Friday’s game will be a bit of a homecoming.
“I’m trying not to make too big a deal about it,” Leibrandt said. “Just go about my routine and keep it like it’s just another game.
“It will be my first time back in Lehigh since 2020, so it will be good to get back and see some familiar faces. But obviously being on the other side, I want this team to win now.”
While there still a lot of moving parts to the RailRiders roster, there are some familiar names. Most notably is T.J. Rumfield. The 24-year-old first baseman batted .292 in 114 games with the RailRiders with 123 hits, 15 home runs, 72 runs and 71 RBIs, which were tied for sixth in the International League.
“You’re never satisfied,” Rumfield said. “Obviously, last season was good numbers-wise. But you just want to build on top of that and show the organization and other organizations what you can do. You always want to improve. It’s a nonstop battle to fight mediocrity. Every single day is a challenge.
“We have a lot of veterans, a lot of guys who have played a lot of baseball. A lot of professionals, is what you can call it. Guys who just go about their business the right way and do things the right way. Spending time with them down in Tampa and kind of getting the feel for these guys, they want to be the best baseball players they can be. So whatever that means, they show up every single day to get the job done.”
Outfielder Everson Pereira played 40 games with the RailRiders before a right elbow surgery ended his season in June. He batted .265 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs. Infielder Jorbit Vivas batted .225 with 18 doubles, nine home runs, 45 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 93 games a year ago.
On the mound, lefty Edgar Barclay is back. He started 29 games last season for the RailRiders and was 7-9 with a 5.98 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 143 innings.
The bullpen was a strength for the RailRiders last season with a league-high 43 saves. Righty Yerry De Los Santos returns after going 2-2 with four saves and a 4.12 ERA in 51 games.
“That’s one thing our organization does a really good job of. They always do a good job of bringing in really good arms in the bullpen,” Duncan said. “Different arms, too. For me as a manager, they really give me the opportunity to slot guys in different positions in a game and put guys in position for success. It should be a strength for us (again).”
Duncan likes the makeup of this year’s team so far.
“We have good baseball players. These guys understand how to play the game, how and when to do the little things,” he said. “We have a really good mix of pitchers: sinkerball guys, four-seam guys. We have players able to do some different things. We have power, we have speed, small ball; we can win in different fashions. That’s the strength of our team right there.”
As for the IronPigs, their Opening Day roster includes six players ranked among the Phillies’ top 30 prospects. Heading the list is outfielder Justin Crawford, who is ranked No. 3, and righthanded pitcher Mick Abel, who is ranked No. 8.
Manager Anthony Contreras, who is back for his fourth season, will hand the ball to righthander Alan Rangel for the opener. He appeared in 10 games with Lehigh Valley last season (five starts) and was 1-2 with a 4.30 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 29.1 innings.
RailRiders roster
Pitchers: Michael Arias, Edgar Barclay, Colten Brewer, Kervin Castro, Yerry De Los Santos, Zach Greene, Geoff Hartlieb, Brandon Leibrandt, Tyler Matzek, Wilking Rodriguez, Allan Winans, Rob Zastryzny.
Catchers: Alex Jackson.
Infielders: Jose Rojas, T.J. Rumsfield, Braden Shewmake, Andrew Velazquez, Jorbit Vivas
Outfielders: Brennen Davis, Luis Durango, Duke Ellis, Everson Pereira.
Manager: Shelley Duncan (third season)
Coaches: Gil Velazquez (bench); Mike Mergenthaler (hitting); Gerardo Casadiego (pitching); Zak Wasserman (defensive); Spencer Medick (bullpen)
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Manager Shelley Duncan said that’s in the past. There’s no extra motivation. A new season begins Friday at 6:05 p.m. at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown against the rival Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
“The beauty of this sport is that every single year, it’s a new team, new year,” Duncan said Thursday at RailRiders Media Day at PNC Field. “You don’t think about last year. Last year was a year for the guys on that team to celebrate. When that year was over with, it was over with. There’s nothing really to carry on from it. The players that were on that team can build from those memories and learn from those experiences. But all in all, it’s a different group of guys, it’s a different dynamic in the clubhouse. It’s going to be a different year.
“These players are going to go through different experiences, different challenges, different adversities to face. We don’t take much from last year. We did have a lot of wins, it was a lot of fun. It’s always fun to be part of a winning team. The players in this clubhouse know that and we’re going to try to have that same feeling this year.”
Lefthanded pitcher Brandon Leibrandt will start Friday’s opener for the RailRiders. The 32-year-old is the son of former major league pitcher Charlie Leibrandt, who won 140 games over 14 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers.
“You’re going to see a veteran pitcher who understands how to pitch,” Duncan said. “He executes pitches really well, is crafty, in and out, front and back, keeps hitters off-balance. He’s frustrating for a lot of hitters, he’s efficient with his pitches. He’s a lot of fun to watch as a pitcher.”
Entering his 12th year of professional ball, Leibrandt said he couldn’t recall getting an Opening Day start. He spent last season with the Louisville Bats and had a 3-4 record with a 4.41 earned-run average in 17 starts. He struck out 80 in 83.2 innings. He also appeared in two games with the Cincinnati Reds.
Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth round in 2014, Leibrandt pitched two seasons (2017, 2018) with Lehigh Valley. So Friday’s game will be a bit of a homecoming.
“I’m trying not to make too big a deal about it,” Leibrandt said. “Just go about my routine and keep it like it’s just another game.
“It will be my first time back in Lehigh since 2020, so it will be good to get back and see some familiar faces. But obviously being on the other side, I want this team to win now.”
While there still a lot of moving parts to the RailRiders roster, there are some familiar names. Most notably is T.J. Rumfield. The 24-year-old first baseman batted .292 in 114 games with the RailRiders with 123 hits, 15 home runs, 72 runs and 71 RBIs, which were tied for sixth in the International League.
“You’re never satisfied,” Rumfield said. “Obviously, last season was good numbers-wise. But you just want to build on top of that and show the organization and other organizations what you can do. You always want to improve. It’s a nonstop battle to fight mediocrity. Every single day is a challenge.
“We have a lot of veterans, a lot of guys who have played a lot of baseball. A lot of professionals, is what you can call it. Guys who just go about their business the right way and do things the right way. Spending time with them down in Tampa and kind of getting the feel for these guys, they want to be the best baseball players they can be. So whatever that means, they show up every single day to get the job done.”
Outfielder Everson Pereira played 40 games with the RailRiders before a right elbow surgery ended his season in June. He batted .265 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs. Infielder Jorbit Vivas batted .225 with 18 doubles, nine home runs, 45 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 93 games a year ago.
On the mound, lefty Edgar Barclay is back. He started 29 games last season for the RailRiders and was 7-9 with a 5.98 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 143 innings.
The bullpen was a strength for the RailRiders last season with a league-high 43 saves. Righty Yerry De Los Santos returns after going 2-2 with four saves and a 4.12 ERA in 51 games.
“That’s one thing our organization does a really good job of. They always do a good job of bringing in really good arms in the bullpen,” Duncan said. “Different arms, too. For me as a manager, they really give me the opportunity to slot guys in different positions in a game and put guys in position for success. It should be a strength for us (again).”
Duncan likes the makeup of this year’s team so far.
“We have good baseball players. These guys understand how to play the game, how and when to do the little things,” he said. “We have a really good mix of pitchers: sinkerball guys, four-seam guys. We have players able to do some different things. We have power, we have speed, small ball; we can win in different fashions. That’s the strength of our team right there.”
As for the IronPigs, their Opening Day roster includes six players ranked among the Phillies’ top 30 prospects. Heading the list is outfielder Justin Crawford, who is ranked No. 3, and righthanded pitcher Mick Abel, who is ranked No. 8.
Manager Anthony Contreras, who is back for his fourth season, will hand the ball to righthander Alan Rangel for the opener. He appeared in 10 games with Lehigh Valley last season (five starts) and was 1-2 with a 4.30 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 29.1 innings.
RailRiders roster
Pitchers: Michael Arias, Edgar Barclay, Colten Brewer, Kervin Castro, Yerry De Los Santos, Zach Greene, Geoff Hartlieb, Brandon Leibrandt, Tyler Matzek, Wilking Rodriguez, Allan Winans, Rob Zastryzny.
Catchers: Alex Jackson.
Infielders: Jose Rojas, T.J. Rumsfield, Braden Shewmake, Andrew Velazquez, Jorbit Vivas
Outfielders: Brennen Davis, Luis Durango, Duke Ellis, Everson Pereira.
Manager: Shelley Duncan (third season)
Coaches: Gil Velazquez (bench); Mike Mergenthaler (hitting); Gerardo Casadiego (pitching); Zak Wasserman (defensive); Spencer Medick (bullpen)
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