MOOSIC — The start of RailRiders baseball is almost here at PNC Field, even though it will begin with a short stop in Buffalo.
Two days before the Yankees’ Triple-A team goes on the road to play three games against the Buffalo Bisons to kick off the 2024 season, the RailRiders held Media Day on Wednesday afternoon.
This will be the second season that manager Shelley Duncan leads the RailRiders, after guiding them to a 73-75 record last season.
Duncan expressed his excitement for the new season, acknowledging the many new additions to the team that will make it look very different from last season’s.
Duncan said, “It’s a completely different team than it was last year, that’s just usually how Triple-A baseball works. I’m looking forward to seeing these guys come together.”
The RailRiders roster for the upcoming season includes a good combination of young prospects and experienced players who have been in the MLB and are aiming for another shot at the big leagues.
Among these players is outfielder Everson Pereira, who had a taste of Major League action when he was called up by the Yankees at the end of last season, playing 27 games at the age of 22.
Pereira will begin the year in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he played 35 games last season and batted .312 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs.
Currently ranked as the sixth top prospect in MLB.com’s list of the top Yankees prospects, Pereira will once again be a player to watch this year for Yankee fans who want to see which RailRiders might get the call up to the Bronx in 2024.
'I am focused on having quality at-bats and getting on base,' said Pereira, with the assistance of translator and teammate Carlos Narvaez. 'I feel completely ready and I want to help the team in any way I can.'
Pereira is one of three top-30 Yankee prospects (as per MLB.com) who will start the year in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, along with reliever Yoendrys Gómez, who made a single appearance for the Yankees last season, and Will Warren.
Warren, who had a strong spring and was in the running for the Yankees’ final rotation spot that was ultimately won by Luis Gil, will be the RailRiders’ starting pitcher in Friday’s season opener in Buffalo.
“(Warren) had a strong finish to last season. … He learned to pitch a little more, instead of just relying on his sinker and slider,” Duncan said. “I think this guy is going to take it to the next level.”
Following Warren, Duncan mentioned that Cody Poteet is likely to start the second game of the series, and left-hander Tanner Tully will conclude the Buffalo trip by starting on Sunday.
Poteet was one of several candidates for the Yankees’ final rotation spot, alongside Warren. The 29-year-old made his Major League debut with the Miami Marlins back in 2021.
In 2022, Poteet underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the end of that season and almost all of 2023 as he rehabilitated his arm.
'It’s a lengthy process, it required a lot of support,' Poteet said. 'It’s also mentally challenging.'
The Yankees signed him in February, and Poteet will aim to start his season on the right foot while striving to return to the Major Leagues.
Poteet is one of several pitchers on the RailRiders team who have played in the Major League, including Nick Ramirez, Duane Underwood Jr., Anthony Misiewicz, and Ron Marinaccio.
Poteet expressed gratitude for being healthy again, saying, "I feel good, I’m coming down here to work hard and be where my feet are."
After coming back from Buffalo, the RailRiders will have their first game at home on Tuesday against the Syracuse Mets, starting a six-game series.
The excitement was noticeable in the RailRiders locker room, especially from Duncan, who had experienced several Opening Days at PNC Field during his playing days.
Duncan mentioned, "We have a team full of players who have been in the big leagues and are eager to return. They are even more determined to wear the pinstripes in New York. I'm excited to see that determination."
