A piece of the New York Yankees’ past is now part of their future. On Saturday the organization’s Triple-A affiliate announced its new identity, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Highlanders.
The Yankees were originally known as the Highlanders, employing this moniker from 1903 (after relocating from Baltimore) through 1912 in reference to their ballpark’s elevated upper Manhattan location. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s team, previously known as the RailRiders, draws upon this history while adding elements unique to the region they call home.
“Before they were the Yankees, they were the Highlanders,” said RailRiders president Sean Reilly. “And now, once again, before you’re a Yankee, you’re a Highlander. There’s a lot of positive synergy there. We like having that association with the Yankees’ heritage, but also something representative of the Northeast Pennsylvania area.”
Highlanders is the fourth identity utilized by the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre franchise, following Red Barons (1989-2006), Yankees (2007-12) and RailRiders. The International League team was a Phillies affiliate during the Red Barons era and is now entering its 20th year with the Yankees as their parent club. Reilly said that the timing was right for a switch to something new, following a “dynamic” 2026 season highlighted by improvements to their home of PNC Field.
“It was the right time to continue that excitement, to capitalize on the good feelings,” he continued. “The [Scranton] area is definitely booming. Part of the renaissance is moving on from the industrial era to more recreation, camping, the outdoors.”
The Highlanders logo set, created by Louisville-based design firm Studio Simon, tells that story. The primary mark features a bat-wielding backpacking bear hiking under a pinstriped sky (an homage, of sorts, to a real-life member of the species sometimes spotted in the team’s parking lot and dumpster areas). The pinstriped sky puts the Highlanders in line with the primary logo of another Yankees affiliate, the Hudson Valley Renegades, also designed by Studio Simon.
Secondary marks include a campfire with baseball bat logs and a strutting bear, adding up to an identity that, per Reilly, is indicative of “the current state of the market here.” Those elements might not immediately bring the Yankees to mind, but the home uniforms do. They feature pinstripes, a Yankees sleeve patch and an interlocking SWB logo similar to the one utilized by the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons in the early days of the franchise (altered to a Yankees-style navy blue).
The Yankees connection was loud and clear at PNC Field on Saturday. The team hosted an all-day “The Big Reveal” fall festival with food trucks, live music and a drone show. The announcement of the new name was broadcast live on the Yankees’ YES Network, with broadcaster Michael Kay emceeing the proceedings. Special guests also included Yankees great Tino Martinez and Joe Maddon (a native of nearby Hazleton, Pa.).
“There’s a lot of positive momentum in the community and this is something we think the community will love and embrace,” said Reilly.
Amid the change -- including the upcoming addition of a new mascot -- Reilly stressed that mascot Champ (a member of the bleacher creature species) will remain with the team. So, too, will another of the team’s quirky claims to fame: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Highlanders, coming in at 32 characters, is the longest name in professional baseball. Note, however, that the team does not play in either city. PNC Field is located in the town of Moosic.
The Highlanders will make their on-field debut on March 26 against the Worcester Red Sox, with their home opener scheduled for April 6 vs. the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.