Academy Notebook: Dairy Max Baseball and Softball Factory; New Balance Future Stars Series

Dairy Max Baseball & Softball Factory

The Dairy Max Baseball & Softball Factory event will return to West Dallas on Saturday, Jan. 29, to evaluate 75 Youth Academy athletes.

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Hamilton Field, 25 softball stars will participate in a showcase style combine, followed by the baseball session on Oates Field at 2 p.m., which will see 50 athletes assessed.

The Academy’s top performers will participate in this invite-only event helping them realize their potential to play at the collegiate level. The Baseball & Softball Factory specifically designed this showcase to assist high school athletes in navigating the college recruitment process.

“The Dairy Max Baseball & Softball Factory events are a crucial part of helping our athletes through their college recruitment process,” said Juan Leonel Gárciga, director of Youth Baseball & Academy Programs. “It’s difficult for many of our athletes to attend multiple camps and showcases, so having individual player skills videos with their data measurables is a tremendous asset for them to have and share with scouts and coaches. It’s also an opportunity to reward those players who have performed at a high level at Academy Training and throughout the Rangers RBI season.”

Participants will perform drills to measure and grade various metrics like exit velocity and power while hitting, overhand velocity and arm strength while throwing, broad jumps and timed runs. Professionals from the Baseball & Softball Factory will compile the data to create individualized scouting reports and highlight reels showcasing on-field performance.

Athletes will receive these materials to assist in the college recruiting process and have readily available profiles created for scouts and coaches utilizing the Baseball & Softball Factory player database.

Ten Academy Athletes to Participate in the New Balance Future Stars Series

Ten of the Texas Rangers Youth Academy’s top baseball players will participate in the New Balance Future Stars Series ‘Invite Only’ Regional Combine on Sunday, Jan. 23. Nearly 100 athletes from across the southwest region will convene on Johnny Oates Field for this event.

From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., these athletes will test their skills through simulated gameplay, the use of MLB-style drills, and precision measurement and training equipment. Players will receive a Major League Baseball scout report, developmental plan and an individual player video with metrics report

At the combine, players are evaluated to identify those capable of advancing to the NBFSS National Combine at Fenway Park or the Underclass Combine in Lake Charles, La., and ultimately the NBFSS Underclass Elite at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets.

Athletes representing the Texas Rangers Youth Academy this Sunday include:

Channing Vernon – OF; Cedar Hill High School ‘22

Joshua Ortiz – SS; LD Bell High School ’22

Anthony Winters – OF; Lake Ridge High School ‘22

Jonathan Alvarado – P; Duncanville High School ‘22

Esteban Machuca – SS/P; L. D. Bell High School ‘22

Aden Howard – OF; Hebron High School ‘23

John Sanchez – SS; Woodrow Wilson High School ‘23

Casey Walls – P/SS; Blue Ridge High School ‘23

Ajani Lyons – SS; The Oakridge School ‘23

Austin Phillips – 3B; South Grand Prairie High School ‘24