Gallo to host Rangers Youth Academy players

SEATTLE -- Joey Gallo’s decision to move to Dallas permanently last offseason was largely due to the Rangers’ Youth Academy, which drew him for its state-of-the-art facilities and the fact that many of the Rangers’ hitters were working out there.

So when the Rangers approached Gallo about representing the Academy’s Athletes of the Month program, which launched on Tuesday, Gallo was all for it.

“It's pretty cool to have my name on something like that and to kind of reward the young athletes at the facility for demonstrating good character, good sportsmanship,” Gallo said. “I think that's really important in not only sports, but in life as well. So, it's pretty special that they kind of came to me and said they wanted to do something. They brought that up, and I thought it was a great idea because I was training there, and I saw how great that facility was and the impact it was making on the kids. It was kind of just a perfect storm.”

Each month from May through August, Academy coaches will select one male and female participant ages 12 and under who demonstrated great sportsmanship and character. Those selected will get to meet Gallo during batting practice before a game at Globe Life Park and receive a Joey Gallo Academy Athlete T-shirt and an autographed ball. Honorees will also be recognized during a pregame presentation that night.

Those games will be this Friday (vs. Royals), June 21 (White Sox), July 13 (Astros) and Aug. 17 (Twins). Angel Gomez and Rihanna Ramirez have been named recipients of the first award.