Academy Notebook: MLB & Rangers to host World Series PLAY BALL Event; Miranda Castaneda & Ana Gonzalez to be recognized before World Series Game 2; College recruiting workshop, presented by UTA
Major League Baseball, Texas Rangers to host World Series PLAY BALL event – Tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 28
Major League Baseball and the Texas Rangers are teaming up to host a World Series-edition PLAY BALL event at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy on Saturday, Oct. 28.
Kids 5-10 years old may register for the free event at mlbplayball.leagueapps.com/events. Limited spots remain and registration will close once capacity has been reached.
MLB Youth Ambassador Coach Ballgame will lead Saturday’s activities through his unique coaching style that combines props, nicknames and catchphrases with the principles of baseball to help kids fall in love with the game. Joining Coach Ballgame on-site will be several special guests.
Event check-in begins at 9:15 a.m., and on-field activities will take place from 10-11:30 a.m. No baseball or softball equipment is required, and all participants will receive a free PLAY BALL T-shirt, wristband and bat and ball set.
World Series pre-game ceremonies
Two Texas Rangers Youth Academy softball stars will be recognized by Major League Baseball at Globe Life Field on Saturday, Oct. 28, during pre-game ceremonies for Game 2 of the Rangers-Diamondbacks 2023 World Series.
Miranda Castaneda, who was surprised with the title of Texas Rangers Youth Academy Youth of the Year in early August, will take the field alongside the nine other MLB Youth Academy Youth of the Year award winners.
Also participating in pre-game ceremonies will be Midlothian High School senior Ana Gonzalez, who received the Jennie Finch Empowerment Award, presented by ARM & HAMMER, at the 2023 MLB Develops and USA Softball Breakthrough Series.
Saturday will mark Gonzalez’s second consecutive year participating in World Series pre-game ceremonies after her Oklahoma City Breakthrough Series MVP win in 2022, but this time, she will be at her home ballpark in Arlington.
College athletics recruiting workshop presented by UT Arlington
On Saturday morning, Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes 14 and older will have the opportunity to hear from the University of Texas at Arlington’s Associate Athletic Director, Mishael Berger, on the college athletics recruitment process.
From 9-10 a.m. tomorrow, Oct. 28, Academy athletes will learn from Berger about college eligibility requirements, the overall process of college athletics recruitment and key steps to take in preparation for recruitment.
Following the one-hour presentation, a 17U baseball exhibition game between the Rangers Youth Academy and Nike RBI Austin will take place on Oates Field. Athletes on the 17U rosters for both teams were invited to participate in the recruiting workshop and will follow the game by touring the Warstic Flagship Store & Headquarters in Deep Ellum.