Academy Notebook: Semien family attends Summer Food Distribution; Burks, Gonzalez, Veiza, Zuniga invited to Softball Elite Development Invitational; Rangers Academy athletes tour UT Arlington

Marcus Semien & family assist with Friday Food Distribution

Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien attended today’s summer food distribution at the Youth Academy alongside his wife, Tarah, and their three sons.

The Semien Family Summer Food Distributions, made possible through Semein’s donation to the Texas Rangers Foundation, sees 150-200 boxes of fresh produce and non-perishable foods distributed to Youth Academy families every Friday through Aug. 4.

Led by local non-profit Food for the Soul, the weekly food distributions directly support the positive nutrition of Academy athletes training to improve their baseball and softball skills during the summer programming session.

Destan Burks, Ana Gonzalez, Olivia Veiza, Hailey Zuniga to represent Rangers Youth Academy at Softball Elite Development Invitational

Four Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes, Destan Burks, Ana Gonzalez, Olivia Veiza and Hailey Zuniga, have made their way to Kansas City, Mo., for the MLB Develops Softball Elite Development Invitational (EDI).

From June 15-20, top softball players from across the U.S. will participate in the five-day invitational, where they will train with some of softball’s biggest names, including current and former USA Softball Women’s National Team players like Monica Abbot, Lauren Chamberlain and Natasha Watley.

Players will work with the EDI coaching staff to develop their game through position-specific drills, simulated game play, mental skills training and off-field seminars, all designed to mimic USA Softball training camps ahead of international competitions and the Olympic Games.

Burks, Gonzalez, Veiza, and Zuniga will train alongside the 60 other EDI invitees as they all look to improve their skills and open the door for collegiate softball opportunities.

Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes tour The University of Texas at Arlington

Earlier this week, on Monday, June 12, a group of high-school-aged Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes toured The University of Texas at Arlington campus.

Located a few miles from Globe Life Field, UTA was founded in 1895 and was a longtime member of the Texas A&M University System before joining the University of Texas System in 1965.

Academy athletes who signed up for the free tour saw several campus highlights, including The Commons dining hall and student center, college classrooms and the Maverick Activities Center.

Shantia Haymer, who will begin her junior year at Irving High School in the fall, said, “I had a really good experience at the UTA tour. My overall impression is that UTA is a diverse campus with students passionate about their education and intelligent teachers who are there to teach them.

“Something that stood out to me was the athletic center and the fact that they update it often. I would love a good area to lift weights. I also liked the outdoor study area. I've never studied outside, but that seems like something I'd like to try.”

Haymer, who will play on the Rangers’ All-Star Jennie Finch Classic team in July, plans to study pre-law, criminal justice or criminology during college, with hopes to one day become a lawyer or judge.

Rangers Nike RBI baseball & softball schedule