Academy Notebook: Andrew Reece named Texas Rangers Youth of the Year; Academy to host Pitch, Hit & Run Team Championship at Globe Life Field

Andrew Reece named 2021 Texas Rangers Youth of the Year

On Saturday, Aug. 28, Andrew Recce was awarded the Texas Rangers Youth Academy’s top honors — 2021 Texas Rangers Youth of the Year, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.

Recce has been with the Texas Rangers Youth Academy for four years, developing his skills as an outfielder and prioritized his journey to becoming a Major League Citizen.

“Andrew Reece is among the hardest working athletes at the academy,” said Juan Leonel Gárciga, Director of Youth Baseball & Academy Programs. “His passion to consistently get better and be a great teammate has always been noticed by the staff. It has been a pleasure having him around the program. He’s served as a tremendously positive influence for our younger athletes on how to carry yourself on and off the field.”

Over the years, Reece has been a standout outfielder on his Rangers RBI team, known for his strong arm and incredible speed, leading them to back-to-back semifinal games in the postseason tournament. In 2019, Reece was selected to the Commissioner’s Cup team and Rangers RBI Regional All-Star team. Additionally, in all four years at the Academy, Reece has attended off-field programs like the Career Workshop Series, College prep and essay writing workshops, Positive Coaching Alliance training and more.

“To be named Youth of the Year is truly a blessing,” said Reece. “I realize there are so many kids that compete every day for this position, and their work ethic is phenomenal. To be awarded Youth of the Year shows you get what you work for, and nothing is handed to you.”

“Andrew has handled adversity with uncommon grace for someone his age, and it’s a testament to the type of player and person he is,” said Gárciga. “Baseball is a game that tests how you respond to failure, and Andrew has routinely passed that test at every turn and will no doubt be successful in whatever professional path he chooses to take.”

Reece was recognized for his accomplishments on Saturday, Aug. 28, in a pre-game ceremony at Globe Life Field before the Rangers played the Houston Astros. In addition to winning the title of Youth of the Year, Andrew was awarded a $500 gift card to be used at Academy Sports + Outdoors.

“[During my time at the Academy], I have grown physically and mentally on and off the field,” Reece said. “I have attended every workout the Academy offers and been taking advantage of all the opportunities. I’ve shown my love for the game throughout the years and made some very close connections along the way.”

On Monday, Aug. 30, Andrew left for his freshmen year of college at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas. Reece hopes to walk onto the baseball team and become a regular member of the squad when the season starts in the spring.

Pitch, Hit & Run Team Championship to be held at Globe Life Field

On Saturday, Sept. 18, the Texas Rangers Youth Academy will host the Texas Regional Pitch, Hit & Run Team Championship at Globe Life Field. Top athletes from local competitions across Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma will participate in the next round of competition for a chance to advance to the Pitch, Hit & Run finals at the MLB World Series next month.

Four Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes have advanced to the Team Championship and will look to post another set of impressive scores. Beginning at 8:45 a.m., 24 of the top baseball and softball players in the 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U age divisions will take the field for the three-part competition.

Participants are scored on their performance in each round of the competition.

Pitch – From the pitcher’s mound, participants will attempt to throw six strikes at a target, gaining a point for each target hit.

Hit – Each athlete will take three swings off a tee in an attempt to hit the ball as far and as straight as possible. Only the best score will count after calculating the distance of the hit, minus the distance off-center.

Run – Runners will be timed to see how quickly they can run from second base to home plate.

Texas Rangers Youth Academy’s 8U Baseball champion Greylon Lawrence, 10U Baseball champion Nathan Salinas, 12U Baseball champion Emiliano Maldonado and 14U Softball champion Rihanna Ramirez will all compete in the Team Championship.

8U champion Greylon Lawrence finished the local competition with a final score of 951 points, pitching six perfect strikes. 10U winner Nathan Salinas advanced to the Team Championship after scoring 971 points. Emiliano Maldonado, 12U champion, and the Academy's top 12-year-old athlete finished round one with a whopping 1,193 points. Representing Rangers Youth Academy softball, 14U champion Rihanna Ramirez won her division with 934 points.

"There is always something special about being the first," said Juan Leonel Gárciga, Director of Youth Baseball & Academy Programs. "Following last year’s cancellation of PHR Team Championship, it is exciting that our athletes will be the first to compete at Globe Life Field.

"A number of Academy athletes advanced from our Dallas sectional, and a couple have a real chance to advance to the World Series finals.”

Texas Rangers Youth Academy returns from Kansas City

Over Labor Day Weekend, 15 Texas Rangers Youth Academy baseball players participated in the Negro Leagues Experience, presented by Comerica Bank. The team spent time exploring the history of baseball’s Negro Leagues, played a friendly game versus the Kansas City Royals Urban Youth Academy and saw the Royals face the White Sox at Kauffman Stadium.

To read the full recap story, highlighting the weekend’s events, visit the Texas Rangers Youth Academy website, linked here.

Whataburger Rising Star Angelyna Grisham

Every year the Texas Rangers Youth Academy partners with Whataburger for the Whataburger Rising Stars Program, highlighting exceptional moments from the Rangers RBI season. This summer, nine athletes were recognized for sportsmanship, on-field performance, academic excellence and displays of perseverance and dedication.

Angelyna Grisham was one of nine athletes named as a Whataburger Rising Star this summer. In her second year at the Youth Academy, Grisham took home her first award.

“I feel like I’ve accomplished so much,” she said. “I’ve never received an award like this, so it feels really special.”

Grisham was nominated by her Rangers RBI softball coach after a stellar performance during the regular season. The utility player was credited with game-changing momentum shifts while playing shortstop and left field. In her nomination she was called an “RBI machine” for driving in runs all season long and was also recognized for her tremendous defensive contributions.

The South Grand Prairie High School student prides herself on being serious and competitive while remembering the importance of being lighthearted and funny off the field. Grisham plans to return for a third summer of Rangers RBI in 2022.

The full list of Whataburger Rising Star winners includes Rafael Carbajal, Giovanca Frias, Angelyna Grisham, Joseph Jones, Christian Lopez, Hannah Pacheco, Josue Pina, Briana Rodriguez and William Terry.