Academy Notebook: Academy participants to help celebrate Jackie Robinson Day at Globe Life Field

Teams across Major League Baseball will commemorate Jackie Robinson Day today, Friday, Aug. 28. At Globe Life Field, the Rangers will host the Los Angeles Dodgers, and participants from the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy will be part of the ceremonies.

Academy scholar-athletes Gregory (7th grade, Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy) and Greylon (2nd grade, Houston Elementary School) Lawrence will be featured pre-game with a pre-recorded first pitch.

“He broke the barrier so we could play in the Majors, so he’s a leader,” Gregory Lawrence said of Robinson’s legacy.

The video of the Lawrences discussing the opportunity to throw out a first pitch and the impact of Jackie Robinson is available here.

During the National Anthem, Gregory and Greylon Lawrence will join fellow Academy participants Ali Williams (7th grade, from Arlington), Anden Stephens (6th grade, Red Oak Middle School) and Danielle Jones (8th grade, Dallas Christian) lining the infield.

And God Bless America will be performed by Patrick Parker Jr. (Lancaster High School, 2023).

Normally occurring each April 15, Jackie Robinson Day is being celebrated throughout the game on Aug. 28 this year – the anniversary of the March on Washington in 1963 and the date in 1945 when Brooklyn Dodgers President and General Manager Branch Rickey met with Jackie Robinson to discuss his future in the big leagues. The Aug. 28 dates represent both Robinson’s journey to break the color barrier and his life as a civil rights activist.

Final Week of Lunch Distribution

The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation will be at the Academy distributing to-go meals again Monday, Aug. 31 and Friday, Sept. 4 for West Dallas youth.

The meals, which are distributed via a drive-thru outside the Globe Life Indoor Training Center, are provided by several Rangers sponsors, including Food for the Soul, 7-Eleven, Chick-Fil-A, and Papa John's. The first 200 kids will be served, while supplies last.

7-Eleven has also contributed a $20,000 check to aid in the Foundation’s efforts to assist those impacted by COVID-19.

The four-week program began Monday, Aug. 11.

Fall Programming Coming Soon

Plans are underway to begin the Academy’s 12U Fall Training Program, following all MLB’s return to play guidelines in the interest of keeping athletes, coaches, and staff safe.

The 12U program will run from Sept. 15 through Oct. 29. Mondays will feature advanced baseball, Tuesdays will focus on intermediate baseball, Wednesdays will be devoted to 12U and 9U softball, while Thursdays will be tailored for 9U advanced and intermediate baseball.

Registration is available at texasrangersya.leagueapps.com.

Buckner Virtual Programming

Academy athletes are continuing to take part in virtual classes offered by Buckner International’s Family Hope Center at the Rangers MLB Youth Academy. Online summer classes in both English and Spanish are being offered, while in-person classes will resume once the Academy’s indoor facilities reopen.