Major League Baseball’s annual cross-country talent identification showcase, the MLB ID Tour, made a stop at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy in West Dallas last Saturday, March 1. More than 30 Dallas-Fort Worth area youth baseball players participated in the workout-style event, including roughly 10 Rangers Academy athletes.

The MLB ID Tour was launched as a pilot program in 2018 with the stated goal of granting underserved athletes an opportunity to demonstrate their skills in front of Major League instructors and scouts. Each year, several ID Tour participants go on to be invited to premier MLB Develops programs such as the Breakthrough Series and Hank Aaron Invitational.

“It’s always exciting when our athletes get the opportunity to perform in front of big-league personnel,” said Ruby Butler, the Rangers Youth Academy’s Manager of Baseball & Softball operations. “These kids work extremely hard all year and events like this ensure that the effort they put in doesn’t go unnoticed.”

This year’s 14-stop tour, which runs from early February to mid-April, features players from the graduating classes of 2028 and 2029. Among the attendees from the Rangers Academy contingent were Mansfield Lake Ridge High School freshmen Joshua White and Evan Ogwezi, who embraced the chance to put their abilities on display.

“This was a great opportunity to showcase my skills and hopefully get noticed by former and current MLB players and scouts,” White said. “Participating in events like this definitely motivates me to work harder on my game and also helps me realize what areas I need to work on.”

“It was a blessing to be able to participate in the MLB ID Tour,” offered Ogwezi. “My goal as a player is to be as consistent as I can to be able to push my skills and knowledge to even better events and showcases.”

For Mason Berry, an infielder and pitcher in the class of 2029, this year’s ID Tour presented a unique opportunity to receive valuable tips from high-level coaches.

“There was lots of information all morning,” he noted. “The coaches gave us specific feedback on what we did well on, as well as a few little things to continue to get better at.”

QUICK HITTER

Texas Rangers Youth Academy spring programming begins March 17

• Back in action: The Texas Rangers Youth Academy is expected to resume baseball and softball programming this month with its spring session slated to begin March 17 and run through the end of April.
• Why it Matters: Athletes interested in registering for Spring programming can do so here.
• Schedule: Spring programming will be carried from Monday-Thursday each week and operate on the following schedule: Monday (15U Baseball, 9U Softball), Tuesday (12U Baseball), Wednesday (18U Baseball & Softball), Thursday (10U & 8U Baseball, 12U Softball).

Education & Buckner International Programming

The Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy goes beyond baseball and softball programming to benefit our community. With help from our partner Bucker International, the Academy hosts free education and enrichment courses for athletes and their families throughout the year. Register here for all Youth Academy classes.