Academy Notebook: Rangers Youth Academy Memorial Day Weekend Tournament schedules; Former Rangers Academy athlete selected for Charley Pride Fellowship; Coach spotlight: Anthony Castaneda
Former Youth Academy athlete Josh Marcellus selected for Texas Rangers Charley Pride Fellowship Program
The Texas Rangers yesterday announced the five Charley Pride Fellows selected for the 2023 front office summer internship. Among those named to the class of Fellows was Josh Marcellus, former Texas Rangers Youth Academy athlete and current Academy coach.
The 2020 Sachse High School graduate was among the first athletes to join the Rangers Youth Academy upon the complex’s opening five years ago. He was also the first-ever Academy athlete to sign his National Letter of Intent at the West Dallas facility.
Marcellus played baseball at Bethany College before transferring to the University of North Texas and shifting his focus to academics and off-field baseball career opportunities. Marcellus has been a part-time coach at the Youth Academy for one year while majoring in psychology. He intends to enroll in graduate school following his 2024 undergrad graduation in pursuit of a sports psychology career.
“Being selected as a Texas Ranger Charley Pride Fellow is an honor,” said Marcellus. “While I am no longer playing the game of baseball, this internship gives me the opportunity to continue being a part of the game in a way I could have never imagined.
“I am hoping this experience leads to a prolonged career in baseball, specifically with the Texas Rangers organization. I hope to build professional skills as well as create networking opportunities. I want to positively influence the lives of youths in baseball, provide Rangers fans with an exceptional experience and help reveal and promote the joy of baseball to the masses. I look forward to this opportunity to serve and grow inside the game I love so much.”
Marcellus, alongside the four other Fellows selected for the 2023 program, will begin their 10-week paid internships at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, May 30.
Rangers Youth Academy baseball & softball to compete in Memorial Day weekend tournaments
The Texas Rangers Youth Academy will participate in the Memorial Day Weekend Five Tool DFW Kick Off baseball tournament from May 26-29. Rangers Youth Academy softball will also join the action this weekend in the USSSA DFW Memorial Championship.
Youth Academy baseball teams will compete in the 15U and 18U divisions for the second consecutive year, coming off two runner-up finishes in 2022. Participating teams will face off in pool play from Friday to Sunday, with the top teams in each pool advancing to Monday’s elimination games.
Johnny Oates Field at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy will be the host site for several games during the pool play session.
Also happening over Memorial Day Weekend is the DFW Memorial Championship softball tournament at the Russell Creek Fields in Plano.
The Texas Rangers Youth Academy’s 18U softball team will open with pool play on Saturday and transition into double-elimination games on Sunday, with hopes of reaching Monday afternoon’s championship.
Coach spotlight: Anthony Castaneda
With summer programming starting at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy next Tuesday, May 30, coach Anthony Castaneda is eager for another opportunity to work with the next generation of baseball players.
In his three years coaching part-time at the Youth Academy, Castaneda has used his experience as a former Rangers Academy athlete to connect with his players and offer a firsthand perspective as a young catcher still playing at Mountain View College.
“[Being a former Academy athlete] helps me give insight into the work ethic it takes to be great and how much the Academy can benefit players as they develop and take their game to the next level,” said Castaneda.
When he trained at the West Dallas complex in 2019 and 2020, getting high-quality instruction without the stress of paying out of pocket opened new doors for Castaneda to succeed in baseball and build lasting friendships on the diamond.
“We as coaches care about the development of the kids who come to the Academy and want to learn more about the game," he said. "For those who are just starting, it is a great environment to come, see many players and make friendships that last and are more than just the game, which leads to athletes coming back with enjoyment to play.”
Castaneda is one of several former Academy athletes that have seen incredible growth in the transition to college ball, reaching new career highs after his 2023 season, where he slashed .421/.521/.623, earning him First Team All-Conference honors and an All-American nomination.
After leaving the Academy, he knew there were opportunities to help future players and continue to improve his own skills through a different lens.
“I enjoy every day I come to the facility to learn new things, not just as a coach but as a player myself, as I continue to strive to be better and reach more of my potential," he said.
“Seeing new players and their love for the game gives me more motivation to coach because I was once in their shoes as a young kid ready to play, learn, and have fun, so I strive to be someone the players can come to for advice and look up to because, at the end of the day, I hope I can make an impact in their life in any way, help them be a better ball player and person as they continue to grow in the game of baseball at the Academy.”
While coaching, he prioritizes the details, breaks things down and truly helps players understand, gain knowledge and practice skills like consistency, patience and routine that will help them develop into high-level players and human beings.
Athletes that register for no-cost summer programming at rangers.com/academy will train with coach Castaneda and the rest of the Rangers all-star staff throughout the 10-week session.
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