The Minor League Triple-A season opens with a rivalry series featuring the Syracuse Mets and the Scranton Yankees. Here’s a season primer.
The Mets and Yankees season can’t be completely enjoyed or kept up on without following their minor league affiliates. Here’s a primer that I hope will familiarize you with the Syracuse Mets and the Scranton Railriders, respectively the Triple-A teams of the Mets and Yankees.
The Mets and Yankees Triple-A season opened yesterday. The Syracuse Mets earned a win over the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Railriders (heretofore known as the Scranton Yankees) by a score of 5-3.
The two lead runs for Syracuse came home on wild pitches by Scranton reliever Nick Nelson. (Recap is here)
The game was highlighted by Yankee’s regular first baseman Luke Voit‘s first rehab game since having surgery in March. He went 2-3 with a walk in the game and is expected to rejoin the Yankees sometime next week.
The Mets and RailRiders continue their Opening Week six-game series on Wednesday night. Right-hander Jesús Reyes is scheduled to start for Syracuse, while right-hander Brody Koerner will take the mound for the RailRiders.
The first pitch is at 6:35 p.m; at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse, the site of a $25 million facelift during last year when the minor league season was closed down.
You’ll note MLB’s new scheduling practice for all minor league teams, with a six-game instead of the usual three-game series that will continue over the weekend.
This will reduce the need for additional travel and reduce overall expenses for teams on the road.
The Syracuse roster has eight players currently on the big club’s 40-man roster of interest to fans of interest.
These rostered players include outfielder Khalil Lee, catcher Deivy Grullón, and pitchers Stephen Tarpley, Thomas Szapucki, Drew Smith, Yennsy Díaz, Sam McWilliams, and Sean Reid-Foley.
The Scranton Yankees have five players on their roster who are also on the big club’s 40-man roster, and they are infielder Miguel Andújar and pitchers Nick Nelson, Brooks Kriske, Deivi García, and Albert Abreu.
The rosters of both teams are fluent and subject to the need of the parent club back home.
The New York Mets Transaction Wire shows these transactions in just the last few days:
Same for the New York Yankees Transaction Wire, which shows this movement between the two clubs:
This year’s version of the Triple-A International League, which dates back to 1884, has been completely revamped by Major League Baseball.
The Scranton Yankees and Syracuse Mets are one of three divisions in the league. Included in their division are the Buffalo Bisons (Toronto), Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia), Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota), and the Worcester Red Sox (Boston).
You can track the Syracuse Mets season with stats, standings, to buy tickets, and their schedule using this link, while the Scranton Railriders (Yankees) can be found here.
If you want to see what drive time is from your home to either ballpark, enter these addresses in Print Directions Search.
- Syracuse Mets 1 Tex Simone Drive, Syracuse, NY 13208
- Scranton Yankees 235 Montage Mountain Road, Moosic, PA
For Mets fans, I recommend you join an informative and active Facebook Group aptly named Syracuse Mets.
By the way, I’ve attended games at both parks and have enjoyed each experience. It’s bonus time, too, at the concession stands where minor-league prices prevail.
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal.
