Pitcher Brendan Beck talks to the press during the RailRiders’ media day at PNC Field in Moosic on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
RailRiders’ Brendan Beck pitches against Nashville on Wednesday at PNC Field in Moosic. (REBECCA PARTICKA / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Pitcher Brendan Beck talks to the press during the RailRiders’ media day at PNC Field in Moosic on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
MOOSIC — Brendan Beck already had one special moment on the baseball field this season. Now, he gets another.
The 27-year-old righthander from California has the honor of being the Opening Day starter for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders when they begin their 2026 season Friday at 1:05 p.m. against the Buffalo Bisons at Sahlen Field in New York. RailRiders manager Shelley Duncan made the announcement Wednesday at Media Day at PNC Field.
“It’s always cool to get that first game,” Beck said. “A lot of it is where you’re at in your spring training throwing progression, so I kind of lucked into it a little bit. But it definitely nice to have the confidence of the team and the org and the coaches to go out there and get the ball on Opening Day. I’ve thrown Opening Day before in the past in college. It’s definitely fun Game 1 to wake up and know you’ve got the ball. Looking forward to it.”
Selected by the New York Yankees in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft (55th overall), Beck is ranked No. 22 among the Yankees top prospects. He was 13-5 with a 3.36 earned-run average and 123 strikeouts in 26 games at two levels. After starting the season 5-2 at Double-A Somerset, he was promoted to Triple-A on June 22 and went 8-3 in 15 starts.
“Last year obviously was great getting up here and finishing the year strong here. We had a great team and it made it a lot of fun, showing up to work everyday and playing really good baseball,” Beck said. “I just attacked some things in the offseason, trying to cut some fat around the edges and see where I can improve. I think I’m close to getting up there and being ready to pitch in the big leagues. Really just trying to take those small steps to make big results, big gains and see where I can improve.”
Beck pitched in the World Baseball Classic for Great Britain — his mother is British — and he got to pitch with his older brother Tristan, who is in the San Francisco Giants organization. On March 9, Beck started against Brazil and threw four scoreless and hitless innings with two walks and four strikeouts in an 8-1 win.
“It was awesome. It was super special. Definitely not something I dreamed of growing up, even knowing there was a Great Britain baseball team,” Beck said. “We figured it out and knew that opportunity was there. Just super-exciting leading up to the tournament and then putting the uniform on was really cool. Really the first time I got to represent my mom and her side of the family. My grandparents aren’t with us anymore, but they would have thought it was really cool just to see Great Britain on the baseball field. Getting to do it with my brother was super special. Something I’ll definitely remember.”
Because he pitched in the WBC, Beck said Friday’s start might not even feel like Opening Day.
“I just had a game day a few weeks ago,” he said. “That experienced was awesome. Really cool to play important games in March. Hopefully gets you ready if we’re doing it in October in the Bronx at some point or even here like we made the playoffs last year. It’s always good to get that experience.”
Duncan said Beck showed his mettle with his performance in the WBC.
“He goes out there and attacks the strike zone, is not afraid of any hitter, comes right at guys, uses all his stuff, pounds the zone early, gets chases late,” Duncan said. “He did an amazing job in the WBC. He’s got a great attitude and is a positive influence on the others in the locker room. As a manager, he’s a guy you love having on the mound. In my eyes, there can’t be a better guy to throw Game 1 than him.”
Last season, the RailRiders went 87-60, won the second-half title, but lost in the International League final in three games to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
This year’s team, at least on paper, has the potential to be just as successful.
“It’s exciting. We have a lot of great players coming, a lot of big-name guys, a lot of guys who can do really special things on the baseball field,” Beck said. “You see that in every facet of the game: defensively, offensively, infielders, outfielders, catchers, starting pitchers, relief pitchers. There’s super-exciting players all over the field and I think that’s going to show when we play. Shelley will get us ready to go out and win a lot of games. I know we’re all looking forward to it.”