Texas Rangers Academy Notebook for Dec. 12, 2025: Rangers third baseman Josh Jung to attend Youth Academy Holiday Party in West Dallas on Tuesday, Dec. 16
- Jung to attend Youth Academy Holiday Party on Dec. 16
- Arlington natives Ixchel and Izel Lincon announce commitments to Huston-Tillotson University
- Rangers Youth Academy athletes Vincent Hood and Evan Smith announce college commitments
The Texas Rangers Youth Academy will once again spread holiday cheer with its annual Holiday Party, hosted by Neil Leibman and family, held at its West Dallas facility on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Leibman, the Chairman of Rangers Sports Media and Entertainment and the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, partners with the Rangers Foundation each year to bring joy to Academy athletes and their families through toys, gifts and festive activities.
This year’s celebration promises a memorable evening filled with holiday spirit. Young athletes and their families will enjoy photo opportunities with Santa, a visit from Rangers Captain, and a holiday crafting station.
Adding to the excitement, several members of the Texas Rangers organization are expected to join the festivities, including third baseman Josh Jung, President of Baseball Operations Chris Young, and Manager Skip Schumaker.
In addition, Young and his wife, Liz, will provide Laundry Baskets packed with household essentials to 150 Academy families, further underscoring the team’s commitment to supporting the community which benefits from the Academy’s year-round services.
QUICK HITS
Arlington natives Ixchel and Izel Lincon announce commitments to Huston-Tillotson University
- Tag Team: Ixchel and Izel Lincon, a pair of identical twin sisters from Arlington who participated the Rangers Youth Academy’s RBI program, last week announced that they have both committed to continue their respective softball-playing careers at NAIA-level Huston-Tillotson University in Austin.
- Meet the Lincons: The Lincon twins are seniors at nearby Seguin High School, where they each letter in softball. Izel primarily serves as a catcher and middle infielder, while Ixchel splits time between the mound and corner infield positions.
Rangers Youth Academy athletes Vincent Hood and Evan Smith announce college commitments
- Two More: Academy athletes Vincent Hood and Evan Smith recently announced their respective commitments to play baseball at Dillard University in New Orleans and Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, Okla.
- Vincent Hood: Hood, a senior at Mansfield Timberview High School, represented the Youth Academy as a catcher and infielder on the program’s Commissioner’s Cup and Breakthrough Series Invitational teams in 2025.
- Evan Smith: Smith, a senior at DeSoto High School, was the Academy’s ‘Youth of the Year’ selection in 2017 and competed as a member of the program’s Breakthrough Series Invitational team this summer. With the commitments of Hood, Smith and the Lincon twins, the Texas Rangers Youth Academy now has 15 athletes in the class of 2026 committed to play baseball or softball at the collegiate level.
Education & Buckner International programming
The Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy goes beyond baseball and softball programming to benefit our community. With help from our partner Bucker International, the Academy hosts free education and enrichment courses for athletes and their families throughout the year. Register here for all Youth Academy classes.