For the first time in Texas Rangers Youth Academy history, two of its top ballplayers are invited to participate in Major League Baseball’s Draft Combine in Phoenix, Ariz., at the home of the National League Champion Diamondbacks.

David Hogg II and Jason Flores are hopeful the years of hard work training on and off the field will help them achieve their Major League dreams, and participating in the combine gets them one step closer to that goal.

From June 18-23, the top 300 Draft-eligible athletes attend the combine, providing players the opportunity to participate in a series of medical and performance assessments, and educational programming designed to prepare them for careers in professional baseball.

Hogg, a current Louisiana State University commit, and Flores, a University of Texas at Austin commit, are hopeful they’ll get the coveted call during the 2024 MLB Draft.

One of DFW’s strongest middle infielders, Hogg, has been long involved in the Rangers Youth Academy and highly recruited to attend MLB Develops events over the past several years.

“This is something every little kid dreams of and works for, and it’s just a blessing to be in this spot,” said Hogg about his potential to get drafted this year. “Joining the Youth Academy was one of the best decisions I’ve made because it has allowed me to meet kids with the same goals as me, and the coaches and instructors have poured so much into me on and off the field.”

For years, his draft potential has been known, and he hopes that scouts leave the combine with a fuller understanding of his elite work ethic and that even at this point, he’s only scratched the surface of his potential.

Hogg’s Texas Rangers Youth Academy teammate, Flores, on the other hand, has had a different path to success. His draft potential has skyrocketed in just over two years of training at the West Dallas Academy.

Flores is a true two-way player but knows his path to the Majors is on the mound. After a lifetime of playing the field, in the summer of 2022, it became abundantly clear that he was special— what began with a 90 MPH fastball now tops out at 96 MPH and garnered attention from college and pro scouts across the country.

“I was happier than ever,” said Flores about receiving his invite to the combine. “This is everything I've been working toward, and this is everything to me. I was a little bit surprised...I didn't think I was going to get the invite because the [high school] season didn't turn out the way I wanted, but I got it, I was excited, and I was proud of myself.”

Throughout the combine, what’s most important to Flores is boosting his draft stock and becoming more familiar with teams across the league to understand what they may want from him and how he can reach and exceed all expectations.

With the 2024 MLB Draft taking place in Fort Worth's Cowtown Coliseum, about 35 miles West of the Texas Rangers Youth Academy, the potential for these homegrown athletes is just beginning.