Academy Notebook: Jr. Home Run Derby – Round one; MLB Identification Tour recap

Jr. Home Run Derby at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy

On Sunday, May 1, the Texas Rangers Youth Academy will host round one of the Jr. Home Run Derby. The Youth Academy’s top sluggers, ages 11-14, will step up to the plate this weekend as they look to claim the title of Jr. Home Run Derby Champion.

This year, for the first time in Jr. Home Run Derby history, the competition will include a softball division. Now, young girls participating in the competition will have the option to swing at softballs.

Athletes in the 14U division will participate in the Jr. Home Run Derby on Kershaw Field, measuring 225 feet down both lines and 250 feet to center. Younger athletes in the 12U division will play on Hamilton Field, measuring 215 feet down the lines and 220 feet to the center-field wall.

Returning champion Maddox Johnson will look to defend his title this weekend after a record-setting performance in round one last year. Johnson, who was competing in the 12U age division at the time, finished the day with a whopping 11 home runs.

After a victorious first round, Johnson advanced to the Dallas Regional, once again taking the competition by storm and advancing to the finals at Truist Park, home of the World Series Champion Atlanta Braves. After facing the top competition in the nation, Johnson finished the Jr. Home Run Derby as the second-best 12U slugger in the U.S.

This Sunday, new and returning participants will take the field at 9 a.m. as they face dozens of machine-pitched baseballs and softballs attempting to hit each one over the fences. Winners from each age division advance to the second round of competition. Then, the top 16 sluggers from across the country will advance to the sixth annual Jr. Home Run Derby Finals at Major League Baseball’s All-Star Weekend at Dodger Stadium.

Major League Baseball Identification Tour at the Youth Academy

Last weekend, Major League Baseball’s Identification Tour stopped at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy to evaluate top athletes across the region, including 25 Rangers Academy athletes. Participants were evaluated by MLB Develops scouts in several categories, including fielding, batting, speed and overall baseball IQ.

MLB’s identification tour will hit 12 cities across the country to identify underexposed baseball talent, particularly African American and Latino athletes, with the goal of inviting the top performers to future baseball development programs, such as the Breakthrough Series, DREAM Series or Hank Aaron Invitational.

Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes had a strong showing during the on-field workouts, showcasing their talents with hopes to secure an invite to upcoming MLB Develops events.

Watch: Visit the MLB Film Room to watch highlights from last weekend’s MLB Identification Series at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy.