Academy Notebook: Rangers Youth Academy talent invited to the Hank Aaron Invitational
Three Rangers Academy athletes attend MLB Develops Hank Aaron Invitational
Three Texas Rangers Youth Academy Athletes, Austin Phillips, David Hogg and Colin Moore, were each selected to attend the 2021 Hank Aaron Invitational. Over the last two weeks, they traveled to the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla., to play alongside 250 of the best young ballplayers in the country.
Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association and USA Baseball created this unique amateur development event to serve as a youth-oriented, on-field diversity initiative that aims to get high school-age players to the next level of the game.
Athletes attending the event participate in five days of elite-level training and competitive games while also receiving a series of presentations on college eligibility and other information necessary for advancement in the collegiate and professional levels of the sport.
Phillips and Hogg were invited to attend Week 1 of the Invitational, which concluded July 23. Fresh off his trip to the Jackie Robinson Training Complex, David Hogg said his time at the Hank Aaron Invitational was “a great week of baseball and personal development.”
The boys attending Week 1 had the opportunity to learn from former Major League players and coaches like Ken Griffey Jr., an experience that was not lost on Phillips or Hogg.
In his second time attending the invitational, Hogg said, “This year was really special, and I cherished it even more since we missed last year due to COVID. I was able to be a role model for the first-timers, and I enjoyed the early morning one-on-one work with coaches and seeing so many great players from around the country.”
Colin Moore, who was invited to Week 2 of the Hank Aaron Invitational, left for the Jackie Robinson Training Center in Vero Beach on Saturday, July 24. Week Two invitees like Moore also have an opportunity to secure an invite to play in a showcase game at Truist Park, the home of the Atlanta Braves during “Hank Aaron Week.”
“Being able to attend this Invitational means so much to me,” said Moore. “This opportunity gives me another chance to perform in front of some of the best coaches and former players that have ever touched the diamond. This invitation is very important because it will help me grow as an athlete and as an individual. Learning from the best of the best will help me when competing at the next level.”
While only the top 44 players from Week 2 will get the chance to participate in “Hank Aaron Week,” Moore is focused on the bigger picture. “There is so much I will take away from this opportunity,” he said. “I know I will leave this invitational with new skills, new relationships and new perspective. I know this event will help me grow as an individual and as an athlete.
“I will become a better person after this event on and off the field by taking away lessons learned from the best coaches who understand my goals and dreams.”
All three of these players have dedicated so much time and effort to the game of baseball, and an invitation to an MLB Develops event like the Hank Aaron Invitational proves that their hard work is not going unnoticed.
Top Academy athletes advance to final round of USA Baseball tryouts
In early May, USA Baseball’s National Team Identification Series (NTIS) made a stop at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy to host a first-round tryout for regional athletes in the 13U, 14U, 15U and 16U age divisions.
This comprehensive player identification program gives athletes across the country a chance to compete for a spot on one of USA Baseball’s National Teams. For the past few months, athletes from around the U.S. have participated in camps and tryouts at the local level, competing for a spot on two All-Region teams that will play at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.
During round one of the tryouts, the Youth Academy had 13 strong athletes represent the team, with seven advancing to the second round of tryouts. Six Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes advanced to the final round of the tryout, known as the National Team Identification Series Champions Cup, in Cary, N.C.
David Hogg, Aden Howard, Amaad Garrett, Romel Garcia, Trace Spann and Ben Stec will each be playing on the South Region teams hoping to show they have what it takes to play for the U.S. National Team.
Romel Garcia, a 15-year-old sophomore at James Martin High School, said, “The Academy has helped me gain more confidence and be less intimidated while in the field. Reaching the final round means that my hard work and dedication to this sport are paying off. Being selected to represent USA baseball would be a dream come true, an honor, and it would bring me one step closer to playing in the MLB.”
Trace Spann, a 15-year-old from Mansfield Lake Ridge High School and Romel’s Rangers RBI All-Star teammate, shared a similar message: “I am looking forward to playing the sport that I love and playing with other talented kids,” said Spann. “I have always seen people play for the USA Baseball Identification Series, and to be able to say that I have as well is a big deal to me. My hard work is finally paying off, and it’s an honor to make it to the final round.”
The NTIS Champions Cup will feature 12 teams per age group. Athletes will participate in workouts and a championship-style tournament while being evaluated by national team coaches and scouts. Following the Champions Cup, USA Baseball will invite a minimum of 72 athletes to the National Team and National Team Development Program (NTDP) events in the subsequent calendar year.
“I am excited to meet and play against kids from all over the country and have the opportunity to work with the coaching staff from USA Baseball,” said Ben Stec,15-year-old from Frisco Independence High School. “I set a goal to make it to Round 3 after the first tryout and I put in a lot of work to get better over the summer. During Round 3, I will hustle no matter the situation or the score, be a leader on and off the field and, finally, I am going to remember to have fun and enjoy the entire experience.”
The boys will travel to Cary, NC, beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 11. All six Rangers Youth Academy players are hopeful they will be among those named to a U.S. National Team roster.
Rangers RBI concludes 2021 season
After a brief recess during the MLB RBI Southwest Regional Tournament, the Rangers RBI League resumed Tuesday, July 13, wrapping up the regular season and transitioning into post-season play.
On Saturday, July 17, the Gophers secured an 8-0 victory, becoming the Rangers RBI Softball Champions for the second consecutive year. On Thursday, July 22, the Rangers RBI Senior Baseball Champion was crowned. Two division leaders, the Hard Hitters and Vikings, battled it out on Oates Field and the Vikings took the win, 11-1, successfully completing a Rangers RBI Championship three-peat.
The final games of the 2021 Rangers RBI season were played this week, to decide the Junior Baseball Champion. On Monday, Hickory and the Patriots faced off in the first semifinal game. The extra innings battle saw Hickory on top with a final score of 5-3. On Tuesday, the Leopards and Seahawks battled it out in a high scoring affair. The Leopards advanced to the Championship Game with a final score of 10-8.
On Wednesday, July 28, Hickory and the Leopards meet on Oates Field, wrapping up the Rangers RBI Junior Baseball season. Hickory claimed the title of Rangers RBI Champions after a walk-off single from Evan Smith, to win the game, 8-7.