A Unexpected Pitching Debut
Cole Gabrielson stepped onto the mound for the Scranton/Wilkes‑Barre RailRiders on June 19, marking his first Triple‑A appearance. He walked the opening batter but quickly settled, inducing a ground‑out before securing a save in an 8‑6 victory.
The outing was a surprise, not only because Gabrielson is primarily known as an infielder, but also because his family’s baseball pedigree looms large over his career.
His father, Randy Gabrielson, starred at the University of Southern California and shared the collegiate diamond with future Hall‑of‑Famer Randy Johnson and power hitter Mark McGwire. Meanwhile, his grandfather Len Gabrielson compiled a nine‑year major‑league career, notching a memorable three‑run homer off Galen Cisco of the New York Mets.
Family counsel and a modest bat
Growing up amid such a lineage, Cole was repeatedly reminded to “have fun and enjoy the game,” a piece of advice from Len that still guides him. At the plate, he is currently batting .250 with a single RBI across five games since his promotion from Double‑A Somerset on June 17.
Versatility has become his calling card. When the RailRiders needed an extra infielder on June 24, Gabrielson shifted to the hot corner, though two errors marked the 8‑6 loss. The move underscored the team’s confidence in his adaptability.
Beck’s June Honor and a Shared No‑Hit
Teammate Brendan Beck was named International League Pitcher of the Month for June, posting a 1.24 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 29 innings. He turned in a nine‑inning no‑hitter alongside Carson Coleman against the Syracuse Mets on June 5, and made his MLB debut at Yankee Stadium on May 7 against the Texas Rangers.
Beck’s recognition marks the first RailRiders pitcher to earn the league award since Will Warren in September 2023, highlighting a vibrant pitching pipeline within the organization.
Looking ahead, Gabrielson says his primary goal is to reach the majors, but he does so with a grounded perspective. “The advice from my family is simple: enjoy the journey,” he notes, a sentiment that resonates as he balances pitching, fielding, and the pursuit of a lifelong dream.