Youth Academy RBI All-Stars

With the RBI Southwest Regional Tournament fast approaching, All-Star team tryouts are underway at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy. Each year, RBI Leagues across the country compete in Regional Tournaments with hopes to take their team to the MLB RBI World Series in Vero Beach, Fla.

Three divisions will compete for the title of Southwest Regional Champion: 15U Baseball, 18U Baseball and 18U Softball.

The Rangers Youth Academy held 18U Softball All-Star tryouts Friday, May 28, and 18U Baseball All-Star tryouts Friday, June 4. Next up, tonight, on June 11, the 15U Baseball All-Star tryouts will begin.

Coaches from each Rangers RBI team nominated top players for the tryouts based on pre-season evaluations.

Rangers RBI 2019 All-Star and 2021 hopeful Ricky Rangel said, “The All-Star tryout is basically a test— that’s how I think about it. There's a lot of good talent, it’s competitive and you have to play your best.”

Almost 200 athletes will take the field for tryouts, while only 45 will make the All-Star roster, 15 players per division.

Channing Vernon, selected to represent the Hard Hitters at the 18U Baseball tryout, prepared for the challenge by working out weeks in advance. “I worked out the entire month before, practicing, trying to get my speed up and trying to get my arm velocity up,” he said.

Position players are separated into groups to show their stuff and outshine the competition. Infielders turn double plays across the diamond, catchers throw out baserunners from behind the plate and outfielders show their play-making ability and throwing velocity.

“Don't underestimate the tryout. Be ready. Don't take it easy. There's going to be good people out there,” said Rangel, who is waiting for good news alongside 60 other potential 18U Baseball All-Stars.

For now, the Academy will focus on evaluating its last group of athletes during the 15U Baseball tryouts. Vernon’s advice to those taking the field tonight, “You need grit and perseverance— you need to push through. If you’re going to make it, you have to do it 100 percent.”

The Academy’s All-Star team evaluators will rely on these tryouts to make their final decision, also factoring in gameplay throughout the Rangers RBI season and other standout performances during year-round training sessions.

The Rangers Youth Academy will select players who embody the definition of an All-Star to face Austin RBI, Astros RBI and New Orleans RBI in the Southwest Regional Tournament.

“It would mean everything [to make the team], let people know that I came from Dallas and that I play for the Rangers RBI League,” said Vernon.

“It’s an honor to represent the Rangers Youth Academy as an All-Star,” said Rangel. “It’s also a great opportunity to see talent from areas across the region. Being chosen as an All-Star makes you feel good, but you don’t want to stop there. It makes you want to keep getting better.”

The 2021 Rangers Youth Academy All-Star hopefuls are excited, ready to play for the Southwest Regional Championship and motivated to get their shot at the MLB RBI World Series title this August.