The RailRiders are a Minor League Baseball team based in Moosic, Pennsylvania. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees and play in the International League. As a Triple-A club, the RailRiders are one step below the Major League level and serve as a top developmental team for the Yankees organization. Finding out who the manager of the RailRiders is provides insight into who is guiding the team and helping to shape the next generation of Yankees stars.
Quick Answers
The current manager of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders is Doug Davis. He was named manager of the RailRiders for the 2022 season after serving as manager of the Somerset Patriots in 2021. Davis has been coaching in the Yankees minor league system since 2018.
Doug Davis’ Background
Doug Davis brings over 25 years of professional baseball experience to the RailRiders. He played 12 seasons of minor league baseball in the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations, reaching as high as Triple-A. After his playing career ended, Davis turned to coaching and scouting. He served as hitting coach for the Bluefield Blue Jays from 2012-2013 and the Vancouver Canadians in 2014. In 2015, Davis joined the Yankees organization as hitting coach for the rookie-level Pulaski Yankees. He continued to rise through the coaching ranks in the Yankees system, serving as hitting coach for the Class A Charleston RiverDogs, Class A-Advanced Tampa Tarpons, and Double-A Trenton Thunder over the next few seasons. In 2018, Davis was named manager of the Class A-Advanced Tampa Tarpons, his first managerial role.
Previous RailRiders Managers
Doug Davis took over as RailRiders manager from Kevin Reese, who was at the helm during the 2021 season. Reese was promoted to director of player development for the Yankees after his one season as RailRiders manager. Other previous RailRiders managers include Jay Bell (2020), Pat Osborn (2019), Bobby Mitchell (2018), Al Pedrique (2013-2017), Dave Miley (2007-2012), and Marc Bombard (2006). The RailRiders have had a mix of longtime Yankees minor league coaches and former MLB players serve as manager over their history.
2022 RailRiders Roster
In his first season as RailRiders manager, Doug Davis oversees a talented Triple-A roster. Several of the team’s top players project to contribute at the big league level soon. Top prospects on the 2022 RailRiders include:
- Oswald Peraza, SS – Yankees #2 prospect per MLB Pipeline
- Ken Waldichuk, LHP – Yankees #5 prospect
- Hayden Wesneski, RHP – Yankees #7 prospect
- Austin Wells, C – Yankees #8 prospect
- Trey Sweeney, 3B – Yankees #13 prospect
In addition to these prospects, the roster includes players with MLB experience looking to make it back to the big leagues such as Ronald Guzmán, Ender Inciarte, and José Peraza.
Key Players
Some key players that Davis will manage and aim to develop in 2022 include:
Player | Position | Notes |
---|---|---|
Oswald Peraza | Shortstop | Top Yankees SS prospect, elite speed, potential 2022 MLB debut |
Ken Waldichuk | Pitcher | Impressive strikeout numbers in minors, chance to pitch in MLB bullpen in 2022 |
Hayden Wesneski | Pitcher | Polished starter, ranks among Yankees top pitching prospects |
Trey Sweeney | Third base | Yankees 2021 1st round pick, two-way college player with power |
Doug Davis’ Managerial Approach
As a long-time coach and instructor within the Yankees organization, Doug Davis brings a teaching-focused approach to managing the RailRiders. He places an emphasis on developing players’ individual skills while also meshing them into a cohesive team. Davis has said his goal is to have each player reach their potential through an open and communicative environment. His coaching philosophy centers around consistency, discipline and fundamentals. Davis pays attention to detail in all aspects of the game including hitting, base running, defense and pitching. He aims to have RailRiders players ready to contribute to the Major League Yankees as needed. So far in 2022, the RailRiders have gotten off to a strong start under Davis’ leadership.
Importance of Triple-A Manager
The manager of a Triple-A team like the RailRiders holds an important role in the organization. The manager oversees the top prospects who are on the cusp of reaching the Major Leagues. Their guidance and coaching can be instrumental in a young player’s development. The Triple-A skipper must balance winning with getting players high-leverage experience. They also must create an environment where players remain positive and continue improving despite the disappointment of being so close to the Majors yet still in the minors. The Yankees take great care in selecting the RailRiders manager, knowing he can play a crucial part in grooming the next generation of stars.
Relationship with Yankees
The RailRiders enjoy a close relationship with the Yankees as their Triple-A affiliate. The Yankees provide guidance on the development of prospects and frequently send coaches or front office members to observe and work with RailRiders players. The input of the RailRiders manager on his players carries significant weight with the Yankees when they are considering promotions or roster moves. Similarly, the Yankees make sure the RailRiders manager is informed about organizational priorities and directions. Strong communication between the big league club and Triple-A affiliate is hugely beneficial for all parties and allows the RailRiders to function as an integrated part of the Yankees system.
Player Movement between RailRiders and Yankees
There is frequent player movement between the RailRiders and the Yankees over the course of a season. When the Yankees have a need at the big league level due to injury, poor performance or other factors, they often promote the top AAA player at that position. Similarly, when players struggle in New York or return from injury rehab, they may be optioned to the RailRiders for more seasoning. The Yankees also often have RailRiders players come up just for short-term spot appearances. The Yankees have already dipped into the RailRiders roster several times early in 2022. Developing and preparing players for these constantly changing circumstances is an important part of the RailRiders manager’s duties.
Former RailRiders Now on Yankees Roster
Many current Yankees players spent time in Triple-A with the RailRiders on their way to the big leagues. Some names who played for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre include:
- Greg Bird, 1B
- Miguel Andujar, 3B
- Luis Severino, P
- Jordan Montgomery, P
- Gary Sanchez, C
- Aaron Judge, OF
- Gleyber Torres, 2B
This list demonstrates the important role the RailRiders play as the final stepping stone for prospects before they join the Yankees roster. The guidance and development provided by the RailRiders manager is instrumental in taking these players from Triple-A standouts to Major League contributors.
2023 RailRiders Outlook
In 2023, Doug Davis will look to build on the strong foundation he established in his first season as RailRiders manager. He will have a new crop of talented Yankees prospects to mold at the Triple-A level. Top names who could spend time in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre next season include catcher Anthony Seigler, shortstop Anthony Volpe, pitcher Deivi Garcia and outfielder Jasson Dominguez. As one of the top developmental branches of the Yankees farm system, the 2023 RailRiders will play an important role in shaping the next era of greatness in New York. Under the seasoned tutelage of manager Doug Davis, the future continues to look bright for RailRiders players aspiring to become Bronx Bombers.
Conclusion
Doug Davis enters his first season at the helm of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in 2022 after several years of managing and coaching in the Yankees minor league system. As a long-time baseball lifer, Davis brings a wealth of experience to developing the top talents in the Yankees organization. He places an emphasis on fundamentals and preparation as players under his guidance seek to make the crucial jump from Triple-A to the Major League roster. The RailRiders managerial role is immensely important in grooming the next generation of Yankees stars. Doug Davis has demonstrated he is well-equipped to shepherd the franchise’s young phenoms through their final stretch in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on the road to Bronx stardom.