Academy Notebook: Italia Ortiz returns from Softball Breakthrough Series; Maddox Johnson finishes Jr. Home Run Derby in second place

Rangers RBI All-Star center fielder, Italia Ortiz, was one of 40 elite high school athletes from across the country selected to attend the MLB Develops Softball Breakthrough Series. On Oct. 14, Ortiz made the trip to the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach to improve every aspect of her game.

“Throughout the four days of the program, I had time to take in all the feelings of being around this amazing group of softball legends,” said Ortiz. “I mean, the top players of the game were literally giving me advice! I took in so much information and learned new drills each day, but it was also about where your head was at in the game and how to keep yourself mentally healthy.”

Established in 2015 by MLB Develops and USA Softball, the Breakthrough Series is a softball development event that aims to provide instruction, mentorship and access to collegiate softball opportunities for student-athletes across the country. The program focuses on developing players on and off the field through seminars, mentorship, gameplay, scout evaluations, video coverage and the highest level of instruction.

While Ortiz knew receiving an invitation to attend the Softball Breakthrough Series would open the door for new opportunities in the sport, she never guessed how much this experience would impact her outlook on the entire game.

“I learned to start with simple things like my running,” she said. “We sometimes forget how important the basic skills are, which brings us back to learning how to improve our techniques in throwing, outfield and infield drills.”

Remembering the simple things can be difficult, especially as a top athlete at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy, often involved in extra opportunities like the Rangers RBI All-Star Team, Jennie Finch Classic and MLB Develops events. Her time in Florida helped her take a step back and remember where it all starts.

“My biggest takeaway from the series was realizing how important our minds are in the game of softball,” said Ortiz. “The advice from the mentors stood out to me the most. It helped me realize that there is love and failure in playing softball, and I must experience both to be successful.”

Some important moments for Ortiz were the open conversations she had with her mentor each day. Creating a bond with her dedicated mentor allowed Italia to find commonalities between someone she looks up to and herself, forming a unique connection. She said these discussions helped teach her to “handle slumps or failures” while playing the game of softball and in everyday life.

Spending four days surrounded by athletes from around the country, all united through softball, made the experience even more meaningful. “As my dad would say, I got to play and learn from the big dogs, and that was a great feeling,” said Ortiz.

“I feel like I came home a better athlete.”

Maddox Johnson finishes Jr. Home Run Derby finals in second place

Early this week, on Monday, Nov. 1, Maddox Johnson took the field at Truist Park, home of the 2021 World Series Champion Atlanta Braves. Johnson put on his batting gloves and stepped up to the plate to swing away at the 12U Jr. Home Run Derby National Championships.

The Dallas Regional Jr. Home Run Derby winner and Texas Rangers Youth Academy athlete competed alongside seven of the top sluggers in the U.S. The two-part competition saw the entire field of participants take swings in round one for their chance to advance to the finals in round two.

After batting practice, participants saw 20 machine-pitched baseballs hoping to launch each attempt over the wall measuring 225 feet from home plate.

In round one, Johnson hit nine home runs beyond the fence, easily taking first and securing his spot to compete in the finals. Also advancing to the finals was New England Regional Champ Lorenzo Flores, who totaled eight home runs in round one.

Batting first in the finals, Flores set the tone with a whopping 12 home runs after a slow start. Despite a valiant effort from Johnson, he fell short, managing to hit eight home runs.

Although Maddox didn’t take home the championship, the unforgettable memories from a weekend at the World Series will always be a reminder of his experience at the Jr. Home Run Derby National Championship.

WATCH: The Jr. Home Run Derby Finals streamed live on MLB.com and can be viewed at the following link: Jr. Home Run Derby