Academy Notebook: Corey Seager hitting clinic; Texas Rangers Youth Academy equipment distribution; Down East wins 12U Wood Bat Classic 

Corey Seager hosts hitting clinic for Rangers Youth Academy athletes

Texas Rangers shortstop and four-time All-Star Corey Seager held his first large-scale community event Thursday at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy.

More than 20 of the top Youth Academy ballplayers received personalized hitting instruction from Seager and his father and longtime coach, Jeff Seager

Athletes rotated through four stations on the Academy’s Johnny Oates Field and concluded their rotation with live batting practice while the Seagers observed.

Both Seagers pulled hitters aside after watching their swings off the Hack Attack pitching machine to offer specific tweaks, helping each athlete’s individual approach as they continue advancing in their baseball careers.

Before the clinic ended, athletes circled up to get some advice from Seager on his hitting philosophy, game-day routine and plate approach.

Seager and his wife Mady concluded the clinic by signing autographs, taking photos and gifting each participant with brand new Adidas backpacks, batting gloves, turf cleats, dry fit t-shirts, water bottles and a powder blue Texas Rangers ball cap.

Rangers host annual baseball & softball equipment distribution

More than 150 Texas Rangers Youth Academy families collected baseball and softball gear at the Academy on Tuesday as part of the annual equipment distribution.

Before the start of fall ball, the Youth Academy offers free equipment to its athletes and area student-athletes to set them up for success in the new school year and new season of play.

This year, athletes had access to new and gently used equipment, including gloves, cleats, balls, batting helmets, catcher's gear, bat bags, water bottles and a variety of clothing like shirts, pants, belts and socks.

The Academy started its equipment distribution event in 2018 as an opportunity to provide gear to area athletes, often marking the first time these players have a glove or bat of their very own.

Down East wins 12U Wood Bat Classic

The Texas Rangers Youth Academy hosted its 12U Wood Bat Classic baseball tournament last weekend on Aug. 11-12, where four teams with the Academy’s top ballplayers under 12 years old competed for the championship title.

Down East advanced to Saturday’s championship game with a 2-1 record, where they faced the home team Crawdads who finished pool play with a perfect 3-0 record. Down East handed the ‘Dads their first and only tournament loss in their 2-1 championship-winning performance.

In the third-place game, the RoughRiders got their first win of the tournament in their 8-2 win over the Express. Both teams finished the weekend with 1-3 records.