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New Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders have a strategy for success

Class Reunion Notices

<p>MOOSIC &#8212; Ben Gamel impressed the Yankees organization so much during the 2015 season that they rewarded him with a spot on the 40-man roster.</p><p>For the kind of season the outfielder had with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre he deserved to be added to the illustrious group.</p><p>The 23-year-old had one of the best seasons in franchise history &#8212; in terms of being able to do everything &#8212; in recent memory.</p><p>For starters, he played every position in the outfield and hit in every slot in the lineup except cleanup, even though at times, he resembled a No. 4 hitter.</p><p>Offensively, he was a machine leading the team in nearly every important offensive category including games played (129), at bats (500), runs scored (77), hits (150), batting average (.300), doubles (28), triples (14), RBI (64), total bases (236), and stolen bases (13), while being second on the team in home runs with 10.</p><p>He also compiled an on base percentage of .358 and a slugging percentage of .472 for an OPS of .830 as he claimed International League&#8217;s Rookie of the Year honors and received votes for the league&#8217;s Most Valuable Player Award.</p><p>In a game where every player goes through mild slumps, Gamel showed amazing consistency not enduring any prolonged slides in 2015.</p><p>&#8220;It went well. I was very, very happy with how I finished up and that was a big thing for me, trying to stay consistent all year and keeping that consistency and hopefully that will flow into this year,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You&#8217;re always going to have troubles in this game. It&#8217;s inevitable. But I was very happy with the consistency this past season. And hopefully I can repeat that this year.&#8221;</p><p>Now looming, as he begins his second Triple-A season, is the gigantic task of trying to produce those crazy numbers for the second straight campaign. And if he does that, he could find himself in New York on a full-time basis. A laid back player, who doesn&#8217;t seem to let much bother him, Gamel knows what he has to do to have an encore performance.</p><p>&#8220;Just stick with my routine and go about my business the same way,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s the same game, so just see how it goes.&#8221;</p><p>During the 2015 division-winning season, many RailRiders players pointed to Gamel&#8217;s play as a spark plug for the team&#8217;s performance in winning 81 games, but as modest Gamel is, he doesn&#8217;t take the credit.</p><p>&#8220;Honestly, I think it was a team thing. I think everyone knew what we were playing for and we all just fed off each other,&#8221; Gamel said. &#8220;I fed off everyone as much as they fed off me.&#8221;</p><p>Regardless of who was feeding and who was the feeder, the RailRiders and Gamel had a season to remember in 2015, and they all hope 2016 turns out the same way.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Ben Gamel moves his things into his locker during RailRiders media on Tuesday at PNC Field in the team&#8217;s clubhouse. Gamel&#8217;s presence in the clubhouse and on the field last year was a big reason why Scranton/Wilkes-Barre won the International League North Division title. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_TTL040616railriders9.jpg</photo0><caption0>Ben Gamel moves his things into his locker during RailRiders media on Tuesday at PNC Field in the team&#8217;s clubhouse. Gamel&#8217;s presence in the clubhouse and on the field last year was a big reason why Scranton/Wilkes-Barre won the International League North Division title. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger|Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_RR-Gamel.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Ben Gamel (82), seen stealing second base during a spring training game playing with the Yankees against the Twins, is a hard-nosed player that always seems to get dirty. Minnesota shortstop Eduardo Escobar leaps up trying to reach an overthrow. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_RR-Gamel.jpg</photo1><caption1>Ben Gamel (82), seen stealing second base during a spring training game playing with the Yankees against the Twins, is a hard-nosed player that always seems to get dirty. Minnesota shortstop Eduardo Escobar leaps up trying to reach an overthrow. </caption1><photoCredit1>AP Photo | Tony Gutierrez </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Dave Rosengrant</p><p>drosengrant@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p>Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Opening Day, Ben Gamel, International League Rookie of the Year, Yankees</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Dave Rosengrant at 570-991-6398 or on Twitter @tldrosengrant</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Ben Gamel, reigning International League Rookie of the Year, ready for another year with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders