Academy notebook
The fall training program is underway at the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, Presented by Toyota.
The fall training program is underway at the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, Presented by Toyota.
Dallas native Matthew De Leon was among the athletes on the field for the activities on Tuesday, October 2.
"We do ground balls, hitting, we've been doing some cutting off, pitching, and catching," De Leon said, listing off the exercises Academy coaches work on with campers during the free programming.
In his second year of attending camps and clinics at the Academy to hone his skills, De Leon has seen growth in his game.
"I think batting has been helping me out, hitting (opposite field) a lot. And also in the infield, turning double plays," De Leon said.
Improvement isn't the only benefit De Leon has reaped from his efforts. He was on the Academy team that traveled to Washington, D.C. in July to participate in the inaugural Commissioner's Cup Tournament as part of this season's All-Star Weekend festivities.
While De Leon enjoyed attending the Futures Game and Home Run Derby, his favorite part of the experience was his own time on the field and facing new opponents.
"I really liked it. Had a lot of competition out there," De Leon said. "Playing against different teams from around the country, it was fun."
The 15 year old, who attends Skyline High School where he plays baseball, has fundamental goals for spending some of his fall evenings practicing at the Academy.
"Being a better player," De Leon said.
More on the Youth Academy Fall Training Program
Through the first three weeks of the Youth Academy Fall Training program, 466 baseball and softball players have taken part in the free activities.
Programming occurs Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. through November 15. Registration is now available for baseball and softball players ages seven through 18 at www.rangers.com/academy.
Fall RBI
The fall season of RBI baseball and softball opened Saturday, September 29, at the Academy.
Games will be played on Saturdays through November 17, with the Academy league facilitating eight baseball teams and four softball teams.
An updated baseball and softball schedule is below to reflect a change in field location for softball games. Scheduling is subject to change.
ACADEMY RBI FALL SCHEDULE
DATE TIME HOME TEAM AWAY TEAM FIELD
6-Oct 9:00 AM Rangers Hard Hitters Oates Field baseball
6-Oct 9:00 AM Vikings Lancaster Field of Dreams baseball
6-Oct 11:30 AM Jaguars Mercy Street Oates Field baseball
6-Oct 11:30 AM Mustangs Leopards Field of Dreams baseball
6-Oct 9:00 AM A's Rangers Josh Hamilton Field softball
6-Oct 11:00 AM Tigers Mercy Street Josh Hamilton Field softball
13-Oct 9:00 AM Lancaster Mustangs Oates Field baseball
13-Oct 9:00 AM Hard Hitters Jaguars Field of Dreams baseball
13-Oct 11:30 AM Mercy Street Vikings Oates Field baseball
13-Oct 11:30 AM Leopards Rangers Field of Dreams baseball
13-Oct 9:00 AM Mercy Street Rangers Josh Hamilton Field softball
13-Oct 11:00 AM Tigers A's Josh Hamilton Field softball
20-Oct 9:00 AM Mercy Street Leopards Oates Field baseball
20-Oct 9:00 AM Mustangs Rangers Field of Dreams baseball
20-Oct 11:30 AM Vikings Hard Hitters Oates Field baseball
20-Oct 11:30 AM Lancaster Jaguars Field of Dreams baseball
20-Oct 9:00 AM Tigers Rangers Josh Hamilton Field softball
20-Oct 11:00 AM A's Mercy Street Josh Hamilton Field softball
27-Oct 9:00 AM Jaguars Rangers Oates Field baseball
27-Oct 9:00 AM Leopards Vikings Field of Dreams baseball
27-Oct 11:30 AM Hard Hitters Mustangs Oates Field baseball
27-Oct 11:30 AM Lancaster Mercy Street Field of Dreams baseball
27-Oct 9:00 AM Rangers A's Josh Hamilton Field softball
27-Oct 11:00 AM Mercy Street Tigers Josh Hamilton Field softball
3-Nov 9:00 AM Hard Hitters Leopards Oates Field baseball
3-Nov 9:00 AM Vikings Jaguars Field of Dreams baseball
3-Nov 11:30 AM Mustangs Mercy Street Field of Dreams baseball
3-Nov 11:30 AM Rangers Lancaster Oates Field baseball
3-Nov 9:00 AM Rangers Mercy Street Josh Hamilton Field softball
3-Nov 11:00 AM A's Tigers Josh Hamilton Field softball
9-Nov 7:00 PM Mercy Street A's Josh Hamilton Field softball
9-Nov 7:00 PM Rangers Tigers Kershaw's Challenge Field softball
10-Nov 2:00 PM Mercy Street Rangers Oates Field baseball
10-Nov 4:00 PM Jaguars Leopards Oates Field baseball
10-Nov 6:00 PM Vikings Mustangs Oates Field baseball
10-Nov 8:00 PM Lancaster Hard Hitters Oates Field baseball
17-Nov 9:00 AM Jaguars Mustangs Oates Field baseball
17-Nov 9:00 AM Vikings Rangers Field of Dreams baseball
17-Nov 11:30 AM Lancaster Leopards Oates Field baseball
17-Nov 11:30 AM Mercy Street Hard Hitters Field of Dreams baseball
17-Nov 9:00 AM Tigers Mercy Street Josh Hamilton Field softball
17-Nov 11:00 AM A's Rangers Josh Hamilton Field softball
Also Taking the Field
The Academy is also home field for Mercy Street Little League. The fall season began Friday, September 28.
West Dallas Little League partners with the Little League Urban initiative to facilitate baseball and softball for participants ages four through 12.
Registration is available at https://www.mercystreetdallas.org/baseball/
Coming Soon
The Buck O'Neil Scouts Association Clinic: Saturday, November 10
The clinic aims to promote baseball in inner-cities by educating coaches and mentoring players.
Founded in honor of the late legendary player and scout Buck O'Neil, the Buck O'Neil Professional Baseball Scouts & Coaches Association was created to provide a forum for scouts and coaches to share their passion for the game. O'Neil was the first African American to coach in the Major Leagues and one of the first to scout fulltime.
Registration is available at rangers.com/academy for players ages 14 through 18.
Kershaw's Challenge Baseball Camp: Saturday, November 10
This will mark the seventh annual Kershaw's Challenge Baseball Camp, hosted by Mercy Street.
Dallas native Clayton Kershaw and his wife Ellen founded Kershaw's Challenge in 2011 and have since given over six millions dollars to support at-risk children and families around the globe. The foundation contributed generously to the building of the Academy facility, which includes Kershaw's Challenge Field named in his honor.