Texas Rangers Academy Notebook for Dec. 23, 2025: Neil Leibman, Chris Young and their families host annual Texas Rangers Youth Academy holiday party in West Dallas

By | 5:13 PM EST

The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and the Texas Rangers Youth Academy welcomed athletes and their families to its West Dallas facility on Dec. 16 for its annual Holiday Party.

The festive evening featured gift distributions, photo opportunities with Santa and his reindeer, a letter‑writing station, and a catered dinner for all attendees provided by Golden Chick.

Each year, Neil Leibman, Chairman of Rangers Sports Media and Entertainment and the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and President of Baseball Operations Chris Young host the event alongside their families to benefit Academy athletes and their loved ones during the holiday season.

“This is a tremendous event that our Foundation puts on each year around the holiday season,” said Young. “It means so much for us to be able to give back, put smiles on faces, and thank the community for its support.”

This year’s celebration distributed more than 500 toys to 150 families with children who participate in Academy programming. In addition to the toys, Young and his wife, Liz, donated baskets filled with essential household items and grocery store gift cards.

“This is just a small part of what we can do to support this community,” offered Rangers manager Skip Schumaker, who was on hand to assist in the distribution of gifts. “We have a platform and a responsibility to these kids to do whatever we can to help them accomplish their dreams.”

QUICK HITS

Rangers Youth Academy athletes Mariana Crane and Jayde Austin announce college commitments

Headed to the Big Apple: Mansfield Timberview softball player and Texas Rangers Youth Academy athlete Mariana Crane recently announced her commitment to Division III Baruch College in New York City. Crane starred at both catcher and the middle infield positions during her time at the Rangers Youth Academy.

Blinn college bound: Jayde Austin, a Rangers Youth Academy athlete and Mansfield Lake Ridge baseball player, committed to the baseball program at NJCAA-level Blinn College in Brenham, Texas this month. The switch-hitting outfielder played in the 2025 Negro Leagues Museum Invitational in Kansas City this September.

Duncanville High School’s Raul Lomas and Tyler Hamilton cement commitments to play college baseball

Look out for Lomas: Duncanville High School baseball player and Texas Rangers Youth Academy athlete Raul Lomas announced last month his commitment to the baseball program at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College. Lomas, a right-handed pitcher and infielder, represented the Rangers Youth Academy in several RBI baseball events and the MLB All-Star Commissioner’s Cup tournament this summer.

This is Austin: Tyler Hamilton, a baseball player at Duncanville High School and Rangers Youth Academy athlete, announced last Wednesday his commitment to continue his baseball-playing career at NAIA-level Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas. This summer, the right-handed batter and thrower saw action for the Rangers Youth Academy at the 2025 Breakthrough Series Invitational in Vero Beach, Fla.

Best in class: With these four commitments, the Texas Rangers Youth Academy now has 18 athletes in the class of 2026 slated to compete in 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.

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