Fall programming returns to the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, presented by Toyota, on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and the coaches might be just as excited to be back as the young athletes.

Jimmy Martin considers his job coaching at the Academy a “dream come true.”

“Ever since I was 6 years old, I surrounded myself with baseball and being a fan of the Texas Rangers has always been a plus,” Martin said. “To coach for them and be surrounded by other great coaches, and especially special kids, I’m honestly living a dream.”

While the Academy’s RBI leagues resumed in June, much of the other programming has been on hiatus since the onset of COVID-19.

“Programming starting back up is awesome. I love being around all of these kids, they have a special place in my heart,” Martin said. “I missed coaching a lot during the shutdown. I started listening to coaching podcasts on how to deal with certain situations in games, offensive and defensive approaches etc.”

Martin has been coaching at the Academy for nearly a year, after finding out about the facility on the Texas Rangers website and seeing an opening for a coaching job he couldn’t resist.

Now he’s working to instill the values he’s learned from the game in the next generation of athletes.

“It’s okay to fail. I always tell my guys, baseball is very similar your daily life. There’s ups and downs, but how you get back up and face your fears and failures not only makes you a better baseball player, but it makes you a better man,” Martin said.

Martin will be one of approximately 15 Academy coaches back in action as the 12U Fall Training Program gets underway Tuesday. Programming will follow all of MLB’s return to play guidelines with the goal of keeping athletes, coaches, and staff safe and healthy.

The 12U program will run from Sept. 15 through Oct. 29. Mondays will feature advanced baseball, Tuesdays will focus on intermediate baseball, Wednesdays will be devoted to 12U and 9U softball, while Thursdays will be tailored for 9U advanced and intermediate baseball.

Registration is available at texasrangersya.leagueapps.com. 

18U Programming

For 18U baseball players, programming will begin Oct. 12 and run through Nov. 2. Intermediate baseball will be held Monday evenings, and advanced baseball Tuesday evenings.

In lieu of 18U softball programming, the Academy will host a fall RBI softball league. Dallas Parks and Rec will host the fall season of RBI baseball.

Buckner Virtual Programming

Academy athletes are continuing to take part in virtual classes offered by Buckner International’s Family Hope Center at the Rangers MLB Youth Academy. Online classes in both English and Spanish are being offered, while in-person classes will resume at a future date.