Yankees' Triple-A Affiliate Plans to Retire RailRiders Branding After 13 Years

A new era is set to start in northeastern Pennsylvania

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders outfielder Spencer Jones (48) is walked during the first inning of Game 2 of an MiLB International League Championship Series at VyStar Ballpark Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp defeated the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 6-4, forcing a Game 3 Thursday evening for the championship. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders will officially have a new name next year.

The New York Yankees' Triple-A affiliate is set to rebrand before the 2027 season begins, the organization announced on Tuesday. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre team president and general manager Shawn Reilly said the goal of the name change is "building an identity that our community can rally around for generations to come." The team plans to do the "full brand unveiling" in November.

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees rebranded to the RailRiders in 2013. Since then, several future big leaguers have played for the RailRiders, from three-time MVP Aaron Judge to current New York shortstop George Lombard Jr. But as of next year, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre franchise will have a new identity.

Checking in on current and former RailRiders in 2026

Aug 9, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. (96) takes the field for the start of the game against the Atlanta Braves at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Heading into the final stretch of their last season as the RailRiders, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate has a 61-50 record. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre went 37-37 in the first half of the year but is 24-13 in the second half of 2026. If they finish the second half of the season with the best record in the International League, the RailRiders would get to compete for the league championship.

Three of the Yankees' top-10 prospects on MLB Pipeline are currently at Triple-A: right-handers Elmer Rodríguez and Carlos Lagrange, and left-hander Kyle Carr. Lagrange and Carr are both on the injured list right now, though. Rodríguez, on the other hand, has a 2.85 ERA in 17 starts for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this year. The 22-year-old also made his MLB debut this year, posting a 4.76 ERA in four starts for the Yankees.

Speaking of debuts, New York's No. 1 prospect joined the RailRiders for the first time earlier this season. In 56 Triple-A games, Lombard hit .268 with six home runs, 21 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases. The young shortstop was just called up to the majors, though, where he's made an immediate impact. The 21-year-old is 5-for-17 through his first five big league games with two homers and a handful of sparkling defensive plays.

When Lombard was promoted, infielder Anthony Volpe and outfielder Jasson Domínguez were notably optioned to Triple-A. That allowed outfielder Spencer Jones to remain with the Yankees for the time being. The 6-foot-7 slugger has launched 33 homers for the RailRiders over the last two years, and he's gone deep five times in his first 45 games with New York.

While most Yankees fans will remain focused on the big league season over the next few months, some supporters will undoubtedly be curious to see what the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre franchise comes up with for the new name of New York's Triple-A affiliate.