A new group of DoppelRangers looked on from behind home plate as the Rangers hosted the Dodgers at Globe Life Field from Aug. 28 through 30, as several athletes from the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, presented by Toyota, were represented to help celebrated Jackie Robinson day on Aug. 28.

Anden Stephens spotted himself behind the plate.

“I was very surprised to see how close my Doppel was to the field. By looking at my picture I felt like I was up close to the players,” the 12-year-old from Red Oak Middle School said.

Stephens has played on the Academy’s 12U baseball team, including traveling to New Orleans in February to participate in the inaugural “New Orleans MLB Youth Academy 12U Tournament,” held in connection to the collegiate baseball Andre Dawson Classic tournament.

Although a broken hand kept him from playing with the Academy 12U squad that won the wood bat tournament championship at the Rangers Youth Ballpark on Aug. 24, he still came to the ballpark to cheer on his teammates.

Stephens also participated in the Virtual Science of Baseball presented by Nike this summer, a new gaming app called STEMadium which teaches science, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), that the Academy facilitated.

While his favorite Academy memory so far is the New Orleans trip, seeing his DoppelRanger was also special.

“It felt good to have the opportunity to have my Doppel at the Rangers game,” Stephens said. “It was an honor …to have my Doppel at the game honoring Jackie Robinson.”

Gregory (7th grade, Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy) and Greylon (2nd grade, Houston Elementary School) Lawrence, who participated in a pre-recorded first pitch for Jackie Robinson day festivities at Globe Life Field, were among the other Academy athletes whose DoppelRangers attended the series.

The complete list, in order from left to right in the picture, is below.

Name                         Age     Hometown

Trenity Okedele     15    Mesquite

Benjamin King       15    Desoto 

Ali Williams         14    Arlington

Danielle Jones      14    Mesquite

David King         12    Desoto

Donovan Hawthorne  12    Red Oak 

Greylon Lawrence   8     Lancaster

Gregory Lawrence   13    Lancaster

Kaleb Thompkins    13    Desoto

Anden Stephens     12    Red Oak

Final Lunch Distribution

Today, Friday, Sept. 4 marks the final to-go lunch distribution at the Academy.

The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation has been handing out to-go meals for West Dallas youth on Mondays and Fridays at the facility since Aug. 11.

Distributed via a drive-thru outside the Globe Life Indoor Training Center, meals were provided by several Rangers sponsors, including Food for the Soul, 7-Eleven, Chick-Fil-A, and Papa John's. The first 200 kids are served, while supplies last.

Fall Programming Coming Soon

Plans are underway to begin the Academy’s 12U Fall Training Program, following all MLB’s return to play guidelines in the interest of keeping athletes, coaches, and staff safe.

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.

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 summer classes in both English and Spanish are being offered, while in-person classes will resume once the Academy’s indoor facilities reopen.