Player Initiatives & Programs

Each year, Dane Dunning organizes several community give-back campaigns to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, an organization close to his heart due to his wife Rachel’s dedicated work with those affected by the disease.

In 2021, 2022, and 2023, Dunning hosted the Stream to End MS Rocket League Showdown, raising $60,000 for the Society with the support of athletes and celebrities from the Esports community. This season, he and Rachel held a Mystery Autographed Ball Fundraiser, which raised an additional $20,000 for the MS Society.

Dunning committed to donating $20 for each strikeout, $50 for every win, and $100 for each double play throughout the 2024 season.

Since signing with the Rangers in December 2021, Jon Gray and his wife, Jacklyn, have been deeply involved in community initiatives. In 2022, Gray launched the #MissionGrayWolf22 program, inviting military groups to three Texas Rangers home games. He hosted 28 service members and their guests, providing complimentary parking, premium seats with a $25 food and beverage credit, and an exclusive meet-and-greet with Gray, which included a Q&A session, autographs, and group photos. The program successfully continued in 2023, expanding to 12 nights and including groups from various military organizations, who also received custom “MissionGrayWolf22” caps as gifts.

In the 2024 season, Gray hosted 10 more #MissionGrayWolf22 nights, welcoming military personnel from organizations like Goodwill Veterans, TAPS, and the Texas Wounded Warriors. He even took the initiative on the road, visiting military personnel in cities like Atlanta, Boston, Anaheim, and Seattle. Over three years, Gray has hosted over 800 military personnel at 25 Rangers games, donating more than $76,500 to the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation to support the program.

In addition to #MissionGrayWolf22, Gray donated $500 for each of his personal wins in the 2023 season to the Adaptive Training Foundation, contributing a total of $5,000, with the same commitment for 2024. He also donated $10,000 to the All-Star Legacy Project to help underwrite a Battle Wagon for the Adaptive Training Foundation and contributed $500 to support “The Most Inclusive Workout” during the All-Star Game Community Activities.

Jon and Jacklyn have partnered with The Birthday Party Project, hosting children experiencing homelessness for birthday celebrations in luxury suites at Globe Life Field. Their donations to the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation covered suite costs, totaling $17,000. They also held a “Players Favorites” auction, raising $23,675.43 for the organization.

In the 2023 season, Jon pledged $100 per strikeout to The Pawerful Rescue, donating over $15,000, and he made the same commitment for the 2024 season. He and Jacklyn also spearheaded the 2023-24 Texas Rangers Pet Calendar, raising over $12,600 for the rescue, with sales for the 2024-2025 calendar nearing $20,000. Additionally, they adopted their ninth kitten and fostered four others.

In December 2022 and 2023, Jon and Jacklyn hosted the Texas Rangers Toy Drive, collecting over 2,200 toys for Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex, benefiting over 16,000 families. Jacklyn also organized donations from Rangers families for toiletry bags, clothing, and household items for the same mission.

Gray participated in the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) PLAY campaign at Globe Life Field in 2023 and 2024, mentoring over 200 young players on pitching techniques and life skills.

In recognition of his efforts, Gray has served as a board member for the Taylor Hooton Foundation since 2023 and received several accolades, including the 2024 North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame recognition, the 2023 Texas Rangers “Jim Sundberg” Community Achievement Award, and the 2023 Bob Feller Act of Valor Award. He was also nominated for the Phi Delta Theta Lou Gehrig Award and the MLB Roberto Clemente Award in 2022 and 2023.

Corey Seager and his wife, Mady, have been dedicated to supporting North Texas youth through their 2023-24 community initiatives. They hosted the "Uncorked for a Cause" charity wine event at the historic Adolphus Hotel in Dallas, which celebrated fine wine, food, and camaraderie. The evening featured tastings from several Napa Valley and Sonoma wineries, along with silent and live auctions. Guests received a complimentary bottle of Corey’s limited-edition 2021 California Reserve red wine, and the event raised over $60,000 for the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation.

Seager has organized a hitting clinic for Texas Rangers Youth Academy baseball players for the third time, working alongside bench coach Donnie Ecker and assistant hitting coach Seth Conner. Participants received personalized tips to improve their batting skills, and at the end of each clinic, Corey and Mady gifted “Seager’s Squad” new Adidas bags, batting gloves, turf cleats, dry-fit t-shirts, water bottles, and powder blue Texas Rangers caps.

For the second consecutive year, the Seager’s hosted a back-to-school shopping spree for 30 Arlington ISD students involved in the AISD Student Outreach Services program, up from 50 students in 2023. They shopped alongside families at Arlington’s Academy Sports & Outdoors, purchasing hundreds of dollars in apparel for middle and high school students. Teammates Robbie Grossman, Josh Jung, Wyatt Langford, Josh Smith, and their significant others joined the Seager’s, along with President of Baseball Operations Chris Young and his family.

To kick off 2024, Seager collaborated with the Rangers Foundation and MLB to revamp Arlington’s Senter Park, enhancing the dual-field facility for players and spectators. The new MLB & Texas Rangers All-Star Legacy Park will feature the Corey Seager Batting Cages, which the Seager’s donated the proceeds for. These batting cages will be turfed and covered, equipped with interior lighting to provide a much-needed warm-up area for players.

The Seager’s donated their Lexus Club tickets to the USO, Safe Haven, Medal of Honor, Texas Rangers Youth Academy coaching staff, and Uncorked for a Cause, further demonstrating their commitment to the community.

Since joining the Texas Rangers, Marcus Semien has actively engaged with the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and the Texas Rangers Youth Academy, serving as a role model for young athletes from diverse backgrounds. He encourages them to work hard despite the challenges they may face in their daily lives. The second baseman was selected as the Rangers’ nominee for the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award, MLB’s most prestigious community honor.

Semien has participated in the Annual Thanksgiving Distribution since 2022, helping provide over 200 Thanksgiving dinners to local families surrounding the Youth Academy. In January 2023, he attended the Rangers Foundation’s MLK Day of Service, which included a food distribution and the Equip the Future program for 50 Youth Academy athletes. On Jackie Robinson Day Celebration in Houston, Semien and his fellow Rangers teamed up with the Astros to mentor young athletes from the Astros Youth Academy and local high schools.

Together with his wife, Tarah, Semien has sponsored The Semien Family Food Distribution in 2023 and 2024, partnering with the nonprofit Food for the Soul to provide over 1,500 boxes of fresh produce and shelf-stable goods during the summer months for Rangers Youth Academy athletes participating in baseball and softball programs.

He has also served as the Nike RBI Ambassador for two years, meeting with youth athletes at the Nike RBI Regionals to offer tips and encouragement, securing a $5,000 grant each year for equipment for the Academy.

Semien has participated in two Equip the Future™ events with The Players Alliance, creating mentorship opportunities for baseball and softball players to learn from current and former professionals about navigating challenges in the sport.

Since December 2020, Semien and his father, Damien, have engaged with parents and student-athletes through monthly Town Hall Meetings and educational modules on the Ethos Village digital platform. Topics have included financial literacy, entrepreneurship, social media, relationships, and mental wellness. In 2024, Semien hosted an Ethos Workshop at Globe Life Field. ETHOS Village offers a curriculum-based and customizable character development program aimed at enhancing the educational experience by redefining success through a solid understanding of identity and self-value, helping students build a foundation for positive thoughts, informed decisions, and ambitious dreams.

The Texas Rangers Families have made a significant impact this season by hosting numerous fundraisers and contributing to the local DFW community.

In June 2024, Rachel Dunning, wife of Dane Dunning, spearheaded the Mystery Ball Fundraiser successfully raising $20,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Fans eagerly participated by purchasing baseballs signed by Texas Rangers Hall of Fame members, current players, and former major league players, with proceeds going to a great cause. The excitement of discovering which player’s signature they received made this event a hit.

Mady Seager, wife of Corey Seager, joined by Texas Rangers Families made a difference this season by partnering with the Prom Series for the third consecutive year to donate back-to-school clothing, accessories, and supplies for local teenage foster girls through the Closets at Hope. She organized a collection drive encouraging families to donate unused household items and clothing to Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex.

Jacklyn Gray, wife of Jon Gray, took the lead in creating the 2024-25 Texas Rangers Pet Calendar, sponsored by The Farmer’s Dog. This charming calendar featured over a dozen players alongside their pets and adoptable dogs from The Pawerful Rescue in Royse City, Texas, raising an impressive $20,000 for the rescue organization. Additionally, Jacklyn organized an online MLB auction for a “Players’ Favorites Basket,” raising $9,200 for The Birthday Party Project in September of 2024.

Erica Scherzer, wife of Max Scherzer, hosted several events where Texas Rangers families came together to assemble birthday bags, treat bags, and personal birthday cards for The Birthday Party Project. They stuffed over 350 bags and crafted 150 heartfelt messages for children experiencing homelessness on their birthday.

The Texas Rangers families contributed over 100 toiletry bags for the USO, supporting military personnel returning from active duty. They also collected over 500 teddy bears, which were donated to the Arlington Police Department to comfort children in need during difficult times.

These initiatives showcase the commitment of Texas Rangers Families to support and uplift their community.

Former Rangers third baseman Steve Buechele frequently visits the Texas Rangers Youth Academy in West Dallas. In 2022, Steve joined the action on-field at the Rangers Nike RBI Takeover event during PLAY BALL Weekend to toss the ceremonial first pitch and coach a participating team.

In April 2023, Buechele teamed up with fellow Rangers alum Mark McLemore to participate in C5 Texas’ student-led leadership summit. The nonprofit C5 Texas received one of the Rangers Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Legacy Grants in 2022. Buechele worked with over 50 DFW-based students, sharing advice and answering questions during the career exploration portion of the week-long summit.

Buechele threw out the ceremonial first pitch at The AUsome Allen Foundation’s annual softball tournament in April 2024. The AUsome Allen Foundation is a nonprofit organization created to financially support special needs kids and adults.

In July of 2024, Buechele and Dave Valle helped unveil the Mission Arlington Medical Center expansion as part of the All-Star Legacy projects during MLB All-Star Week.

Rangers pitcher Yovani Gallardo participated in several community initiatives surrounding MLB All-Star week in 2024. He attended the All-Star Mural Unveiling at Artes De La Rosa in Fort Worth, Texas. The mural features seven baseball players, ranging from T-ball to the major leagues, including Gallardo himself. It celebrates the Latino community and highlights the journey of Latino and Latina baseball and softball players as they pursue their dreams.

Yovani and country star Kane Brown unveiled repairs and improvements at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Tarrant County. These upgrades included a refurbished sports court, a reorganized teen space featuring new STEAM work areas, and a renovated music studio donated by Kane Brown himself.

In 2022, former pitcher and current Rangers Spanish radio broadcaster José Guzmán participated in the PlayersTV Hispanic Heritage event in collaboration with DFW organization Primos Dallas. During the event, Latino, Hispanic, and Mexican pro-athletes from the Metroplex, including José, interacted with and mentored children in the community to help establish connections they can utilize in the future.

Guzmán traveled to Uvalde, Texas, with representatives from the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and Houston Astros Foundation in 2023. There he participated in a community picnic in conjunction with the announcement that MLB would donate funds from the Winter Meeting’s charity auction to establish a new Boys & Girls Club following the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School.

In 2024, Guzmán attended the Dallas Youth Baseball Association’s Opening Day where he encouraged the next generation of youth baseball players and threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Former pitcher, coach and manager, Larry Hardy, made a guest appearance at Roanoke Elementary School for their annual Rangers Day. He delivered several presentations on what it means to be a Ranger, inspiring the students to work hard and pursue their dreams.

Mark McLemore, a former Rangers player, coached a youth team at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy during the 2022 Rangers Nike RBI Takeover event in June. Joining McLemore at the event was fellow Rangers Alumni Steve Buechele, who coached the opposing team that season.

McLemore also participated in the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation’s press event announcing the 50th Anniversary Legacy Grant Program and assisted in a $5,000 check presentation to the Sam Houston High School baseball team.

In 2023, he teamed up with fellow Rangers alum Steve Buechele to participate in C5 Texas’ student-led leadership summit. The nonprofit C5 Texas received one of the Rangers Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Legacy Grants in 2022. McLemore worked with over 50 DFW-based students, sharing advice and answering questions during the career exploration portion of the week-long summit.

In 2024, McLemore participated in the Juneteenth Walk of Freedom in Dallas, Texas, alongside his former teammate Darren Oliver and the legendary activist Opal Lee.

During the 2024 MLB All-Star Week, McLemore also coached in the 2024 HBCU Classic that showcases 50 of the top players from historically Black colleges and universities on a national stage. Players got the chance to gain exposure, receive instruction and learn from some of MLB’s greats.

In 2024, former outfielder Kevin Mench threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Dallas Fire Department’s Box 4 Baseball Classic. This nonprofit organization consists of firefighters who compete against first responders from across the country to provide financial support for first responders and their families facing financial crises.

Mench joined local senior citizens during the 2024 Walk with a Doc event. The organization aims to inspire communities through movement and conversation.

Mench and pitcher Shawn Tolleson participated in the Most Inclusive Workout hosted by the Adaptive Training Foundation during 2024 MLB All-Star Week. Founded to support veterans and individuals with catastrophic injuries resulting in paralysis, amputation, or internal injuries, the Adaptive Training Foundation focuses on closing equity gaps and promoting inclusivity—values that align with MLB Together. The workout aimed to foster a welcoming environment for all participants.

In 2024, former outfielder and current team television broadcaster David Murphy took part in the United Way Reading Day alongside other local pro teams and athletes. The event featured a pep rally and reading program that emphasized the importance of literacy in schools.

Darren hosts an annual end-of-the-year holiday party to assist families that have completed financial education courses by offering a helping hand as they work to break the poverty cycle and provide a better life for their children. Families from Arlington Urban Ministries that have completed the Thriving Families Program and Buckner International Families that have completed the Faith & Finance Classes receive invitations to celebrate the holidays with Darren and his family. Party guests receive dinner, gift cards for the children and adults, toys, and household essentials.

In 2024, Oliver joined former teammate Mark McLemore and legendary activist Opal Lee during her Juneteenth Walk of Freedom in Dallas, Texas.

Major League Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez hosted an exclusive camp for Texas Rangers Youth Academy catchers in August of 2023. Athletes received instruction on improving their game behind the plate through group drills and one-on-one instruction from the 13-time Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner.

Pudge served as an Ambassador for the 2024 All-Star festivities in Arlington, where he opened the All-Star Village alongside teammate David Valle and Miracle League boys and girls. He participated in a panel discussion with Latino baseball legends and commemorated the 2024 All-Star Game with Rangers Hall of Famers.

Former Rangers pitcher Shawn Tolleson visited the Texas Rangers Youth Academy in January of 2023 to lead a health and wellness presentation for athletes participating in the Dairy Max Baseball & Softball Factory showcase. In conversations with the hopeful college recruits, Tolleson shared lessons he learned about caring for his body as a professional athlete.

In 2024, Tolleson and Rangers Hall of Famer Jeff Russell attended the kickoff event for MLB All-Star Week at Klyde Warren Park in Dallas. The two engaged with children of all ages, providing feedback to the kids as they took swings in the batting cages.

Tolleson and Rangers outfielder Kevin Mench took part in the Most Inclusive Workout hosted by the Adaptive Training Foundation during the 2024 MLB All-Star Week. The foundation, dedicated to helping veterans and individuals facing catastrophic injuries such as paralysis or amputation, aims to close equity gaps and promote inclusivity—key values of MLB Together. The workout provided a welcoming space for all participants to engage and connect.

In July of 2024, Dave Valle and Steve Buechele helped unveil the Mission Arlington Medical Center expansion as part of the All-Star Legacy projects during MLB All-Star Week.

Valle attended the opening ceremony of All-Star Village, joined by his teammate Ivan Rodriguez and children from the Miracle League. The opening ceremonies transitioned into the All-Star Miracle League game, uniting teams from North Texas that provide baseball opportunities and education for individuals with physical and mental disabilities.

Mike Adams, Mark Brandenburg, Michael Choice, and Cecil Espy helped kick off the season at the Miracle League Opening Day celebration in September 2024.

Throughout the 2024 season, over 40 former Texas Rangers players attended Friday and Saturday home games to participate in New Era Alumni Alley autograph sessions for Rangers fans of all ages.

Each year dozens of Texas Rangers alumni participate in the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation Golf Tournament, playing alongside community members and sponsors in the 18-hole charity golf event.

The Texas Rangers athletic training staff, with help from pitcher Jon Gray, hosted their annual PBATS PLAY Campaign at Globe Life Field on Saturday, August 3rd.

Over 100 youth baseball and softball players participated in this year’s event, where they were educated on the importance of living a healthy and active lifestyle and decision-making regarding performance-enhancing drugs.

PLAY, which stands for Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth, is a national public awareness campaign of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) in conjunction with the Taylor Hooton Foundation, Song of Charlie, and MLB Charities.

Head athletic trainer Matt Lucero, athletic trainer Jacob Newburn, strength and conditioning coaches Logan Frandsen and Wade Lamont, and performance dietician Katie McInnis led the event.

Throughout the season, Texas Rangers players and coaches sign free pre-game autographs, presented by Golden Chick, as part of Family Fun Tuesdays.

For every Tuesday home game, Rangers will sign autographs for kids 13 and under behind section 223 from 5:30 – 6 p.m.

For more information, visit rangers.com/familyfun.