Unforgettable experience at the Negro Leagues Museum Invitational

Fourteen Texas Rangers Youth Academy student-athletes recently participated in the fourth annual Negro Leagues Museum Invitational, presented by Comerica Bank.

During the three-day trip, the athletes faced off against the Kansas City Royals Youth Academy for a three-game series, attended a Royals game at Kauffman Stadium, and participated in an exclusive tour of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president, Bob Kendrick, gave an exclusive tour of the museum, sharing stories from the past and highlighting the importance behind baseball’s Negro Leagues.

"This experience at the Negro Leagues Museum Invitational goes far beyond the baseball field,” said Texas Rangers Youth Academy head coach Dash Johnson. “Our student-athletes not only had the chance to compete against top talent but also to connect with the game's rich history and understand the legacy they are a part of. This trip was an invaluable opportunity for our players to see firsthand the impact of sports on and off the field."

This experience is expected to impact how the student-athletes view their roles as athletes and stewards of the community. The roster included Vincent Hood (Mansfield Legacy), Jalen McLin (Frisco Emerson), Braylon Hubbard (Duncanville), Nicholas Smith (Mansfield Timberview), Maddox Johnson (North Garland), Evan Smith (Cedar Hill), Gregory Lawrence (Duncanville), Brian Washington (John Horn), Kyle Moore (Kennedale), Kaleb Thompkins (Desoto), Isaac Coleman (Newman Smith) and Trenton Parker (Mansfield Lake Ridge).

Quick hits

MLB awards college scholarships to student-athletes from Texas Rangers Youth Academy

What it is: The Nike Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program is MLB's baseball and softball initiative to serve youth, particularly those from underserved communities.

Why it matters: With the installment of new scholarships, the RBI for RBI Scholarship program is providing 37 students with scholarships in the 2024-25 academic year. Two of those student-athletes are from the Texas Rangers Youth Academy. Congratulations to Najashi Abdullah (University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus) and Jayla Hunter (North Carolina A&T State University) for receiving scholarships.

Go deeper: The recipients receive the grants through the “RBI for RBI” Scholarship Fund, created in 2008 to provide financial support for college-bound student-athletes based on academic record, leadership qualities, participation in school and community activities, and financial need. Since its inception, the “RBI for RBI” Scholarship Fund has awarded more than 160 college scholarships to Nike RBI participants from more than 40 programs.

2024 Dairy Max Baseball and Softball Factory Showcase

What it is: At the Dairy Max Baseball Factory Showcase, 50 Texas Rangers Youth Academy's top-performing baseball stars took to Globe Life Field to showcase their talent for Baseball evaluators. Thirty five Softball athletes participated in the Softball Showcase at the Youth Academy.

Why it matters: Baseball professionals compiled the data to create individualized scouting reports and highlight reels showcasing the student-athlete's on-field performance.

Go deeper: Athletes performed drills to measure exit velocity and power while hitting, overhand velocity and arm strength while throwing, broad jumps and timed runs.