Coming off his most successful season yet at the helm of the RailRiders, it was announced Thursday that Shelley Duncan will be back as the team’s manager for a fourth season in 2026.
The RailRiders will also be retaining most of Duncan’s staff from a season ago, according to a press release issued by the team on Thursday.
”Being a part of the Yankees organization is a huge privilege,” Duncan stated. “It’s the best organization in baseball … the best organization across the sports. It’s awesome. And it’s family … the people in this organization. I absolutely love them from the top down. It feels like a home to me. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has been absolutely wonderful the last three years. And to be there a fourth year, it’s going to be another fun one.”
In his tenure as RailRiders manager, Duncan has won 249 games over the past three seasons. Last year, he guided the RailRiders to a second-half International League title and was named IL Manager of the Year for his efforts.
The RailRiders made it to the International League Championship Series in 2025, losing in three games to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
Several members of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre coaching staff will be returning alongside Duncan: hitting coach Mike Merganthaler and bench coach Gil Velasquez will return for their second seasons in their respective roles on staff.
After serving as the team’s bullpen coach in 2025, Spencer Medick will slide over into the role of pitching coach, and Peter Larson has joined the staff as the new bullpen coach in his place.
Larson spent last season as the pitching coach for the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate, the Somerset Patriots.
Raul Dominguez will return to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season as the defensive coach after spending three years managing the Patriots.
Dominguez previously served on the RailRiders’ coaching staff in 2021 and 2022.
Other returning staffers include athletic trainer Brandon Rodriguez, assistant athletic trainer Hannah Davis, home clubhouse manager Jim Billington and video/tech assistant Danny Althoff.
New to the staff are strength and conditioning coach Isaiah McDonald, as well as new advance scouting analyst Matt Wells.
The RailRiders open up the 2026 season in Buffalo on March 27.
The team’s home opener is scheduled for April 7 at 6:35 p.m. against the Durham Bulls.