Academy Notebook: Comeback Kid: Caleb Richardson; Spring programming starts Monday

High school freshman Caleb Richardson has proven himself as an elite baseball player. In addition to being recognized as one of the Rangers Youth Academy “Whataburger Rising Stars,” Richardson has received many accolades outside of the Youth Academy including, a World Series Ring, several tournament championships and “Fastest Baserunner.”

Richardson joined the Texas Rangers Youth Academy in 2019 and has been a standout player since Day 1. “Caleb immediately caught the attention of the coaching staff with his blazing speed on the base paths and his ability to stretch base hits into doubles,” said Juan Leonel Gárciga, Director of Youth Baseball & Academy Programs. “His ability to pitch and play the outfield at a high level landed him a spot on the Junior division RBI All-Star team."

After years of success early in his playing career, Richardson came face to face with a career-halting injury. In October 2020, Caleb tore both his ACL and meniscus. The road to recovery hasn’t been easy but Richardson is “determined to get better and keep pushing for greatness!” He also acknowledges that as a young Freshman, “there is still plenty of time to play and show who I am.”

What’s next for Caleb, you may ask? Gárciga says, “Caleb will be one of just a handful of players who will have an opportunity to return on the Junior All-Star team roster in 2021, as many have aged up to the Senior division. Our hope is that Caleb’s comeback story includes him taking on a greater role on the 15U All-Star team as an impact player.”

In Richardson’s own words, “My comeback will be greater and stronger than my setback.”

Facing an injury can make it easy to forget what we love about the game, but Richardson is ready to get back to the field, where he enjoys building a bond with his teammates and having fun playing the game. In the meantime, he offers this advice to other athletes facing an injury, “Push to get back to 100%. Anything is still possible. Remain strong-willed.”

Spring Programming

Spring Programming at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy starts Monday, March 22—don’t miss your chance to register. Programming is open to all baseball and softball players ages 7 to 18, with instruction occurring multiple nights each week.

Whether your child is picking up a glove for the first time or has been playing for years, the Texas Rangers Youth Academy will help build their skills and knowledge of the game. Every athlete will participate in training sessions that expand on the principles of hitting, catching, throwing, base-running and more. Participants will be designated into training groups for specialized coaching based on age and skill level as assessed by our coaches and staff.

Youth Academy athletes will have the chance to learn from several hand-selected coaches, many of whom have seen success on the baseball diamond, from playing on Division I teams in college to Major League tryouts. Every Youth Academy coach shares our love of the Dallas community and takes great pride in coaching children to become the greatest player of their generation.

The Spring Programming 2021 session begins Monday and will continue through Wednesday, May 21.

To register your child for the Spring Session, please visit texasrangers.com/academy.

High School Baseball & Softball Spring into March

Below is the schedule of the remaining Pinkston, Sunset and Thomas Jefferson High School baseball and softball games to be played at the Academy in March. Scheduling is subject to change. Additional April and May dates and opponents will be included in future notebooks.

For the fourth straight year, Pinkston High School baseball and softball teams are calling the Academy home. The Sunset High School baseball and softball squad will also join them in playing their 2021 home games at the facility again this year.

This is also the second season Thomas Jefferson High School baseball and softball teams are playing their home games at the Academy after their fields were damaged by the October 2019 tornadoes that hit Dallas.

Jr. Homerun Derby

Save the date—the Jr. Homerun Derby at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy is on April 24.

Registration is open to all players under the age of 14, and participation is free. Plus, the 2021 champion has the chance to advance to the finals during the World Series.

Registration details are available at JrHRD.com.