The fall training program is underway at the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, Presented by Toyota.
 
Dallas native Matthew De Leon was among the athletes on the field for the activities on Tuesday, October 2.
 
"We do ground balls, hitting, we've been doing some cutting off, pitching, and catching," De Leon said, listing off the exercises Academy coaches work on with campers during the free programming.
 
In his second year of attending camps and clinics at the Academy to hone his skills, De Leon has seen growth in his game.
 
"I think batting has been helping me out, hitting (opposite field) a lot. And also in the infield, turning double plays," De Leon said. 
 
Improvement isn't the only benefit De Leon has reaped from his efforts. He was on the Academy team that traveled to Washington, D.C. in July to participate in the inaugural Commissioner's Cup Tournament as part of this season's All-Star Weekend festivities.  
While De Leon enjoyed attending the Futures Game and Home Run Derby, his favorite part of the experience was his own time on the field and facing new opponents.
 
"I really liked it. Had a lot of competition out there," De Leon said. "Playing against different teams from around the country, it was fun."
 
The 15 year old, who attends Skyline High School where he plays baseball, has fundamental goals for spending some of his fall evenings practicing at the Academy.
 
"Being a better player," De Leon said. 
 
More on the Youth Academy Fall Training Program
 
Through the first three weeks of the Youth Academy Fall Training program, 466 baseball and softball players have taken part in the free activities.
 
Programming occurs Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. through November 15. Registration is now available for baseball and softball players ages seven through 18 at www.rangers.com/academy. 
Fall RBI
 
The fall season of RBI baseball and softball opened Saturday, September 29, at the Academy.
 
Games will be played on Saturdays through November 17, with the Academy league facilitating eight baseball teams and four softball teams.
 
An updated baseball and softball schedule is below to reflect a change in field location for softball games. Scheduling is subject to change.
ACADEMY RBI FALL SCHEDULE
DATE   TIME   HOME TEAM   AWAY TEAM   FIELD     
6-Oct   9:00 AM   Rangers   Hard Hitters   Oates Field   baseball
6-Oct   9:00 AM   Vikings   Lancaster   Field of Dreams   baseball
6-Oct   11:30 AM   Jaguars   Mercy Street   Oates Field   baseball
6-Oct   11:30 AM   Mustangs   Leopards   Field of Dreams   baseball
6-Oct   9:00 AM   A's   Rangers   Josh Hamilton Field   softball
6-Oct   11:00 AM   Tigers   Mercy Street   Josh Hamilton Field   softball
13-Oct   9:00 AM   Lancaster   Mustangs   Oates Field   baseball
13-Oct   9:00 AM   Hard Hitters   Jaguars   Field of Dreams   baseball
13-Oct   11:30 AM   Mercy Street   Vikings   Oates Field   baseball
13-Oct   11:30 AM   Leopards   Rangers   Field of Dreams   baseball
13-Oct   9:00 AM   Mercy Street   Rangers   Josh Hamilton Field   softball
13-Oct   11:00 AM   Tigers   A's   Josh Hamilton Field   softball
20-Oct   9:00 AM   Mercy Street   Leopards   Oates Field   baseball
20-Oct   9:00 AM   Mustangs   Rangers   Field of Dreams   baseball
20-Oct   11:30 AM   Vikings   Hard Hitters   Oates Field   baseball
20-Oct   11:30 AM   Lancaster   Jaguars   Field of Dreams   baseball
20-Oct   9:00 AM   Tigers   Rangers   Josh Hamilton Field   softball
20-Oct   11:00 AM   A's   Mercy Street   Josh Hamilton Field   softball
27-Oct   9:00 AM   Jaguars   Rangers   Oates Field   baseball
27-Oct   9:00 AM   Leopards   Vikings   Field of Dreams   baseball
27-Oct   11:30 AM   Hard Hitters   Mustangs   Oates Field   baseball
27-Oct   11:30 AM   Lancaster   Mercy Street   Field of Dreams   baseball
27-Oct   9:00 AM   Rangers   A's   Josh Hamilton Field   softball
27-Oct   11:00 AM   Mercy Street   Tigers   Josh Hamilton Field   softball
3-Nov   9:00 AM   Hard Hitters   Leopards   Oates Field   baseball
3-Nov   9:00 AM   Vikings   Jaguars   Field of Dreams   baseball
3-Nov   11:30 AM   Mustangs   Mercy Street   Field of Dreams   baseball
3-Nov   11:30 AM   Rangers   Lancaster   Oates Field   baseball
3-Nov   9:00 AM   Rangers   Mercy Street   Josh Hamilton Field   softball
3-Nov   11:00 AM   A's   Tigers   Josh Hamilton Field   softball
9-Nov   7:00 PM   Mercy Street   A's   Josh Hamilton Field   softball
9-Nov   7:00 PM   Rangers   Tigers   Kershaw's Challenge Field   softball
10-Nov   2:00 PM   Mercy Street   Rangers   Oates Field   baseball
10-Nov   4:00 PM   Jaguars   Leopards   Oates Field   baseball
10-Nov   6:00 PM   Vikings   Mustangs   Oates Field   baseball
10-Nov   8:00 PM   Lancaster   Hard Hitters   Oates Field   baseball
17-Nov   9:00 AM   Jaguars   Mustangs   Oates Field   baseball
17-Nov   9:00 AM   Vikings   Rangers   Field of Dreams   baseball
17-Nov   11:30 AM   Lancaster   Leopards   Oates Field   baseball
17-Nov   11:30 AM   Mercy Street   Hard Hitters   Field of Dreams   baseball
17-Nov   9:00 AM   Tigers   Mercy Street   Josh Hamilton Field   softball
17-Nov   11:00 AM   A's   Rangers   Josh Hamilton Field   softball
 
Also Taking the Field
 
The Academy is also home field for Mercy Street Little League. The fall season began Friday, September 28. 
 
West Dallas Little League partners with the Little League Urban initiative to facilitate baseball and softball for participants ages four through 12.
 
Registration is available at https://www.mercystreetdallas.org/baseball/
 
Coming Soon
 
The Buck O'Neil Scouts Association Clinic: Saturday, November 10
 
The clinic aims to promote baseball in inner-cities by educating coaches and mentoring players.
 
Founded in honor of the late legendary player and scout Buck O'Neil, the Buck O'Neil Professional Baseball Scouts & Coaches Association was created to provide a forum for scouts and coaches to share their passion for the game. O'Neil was the first African American to coach in the Major Leagues and one of the first to scout fulltime.
 
Registration is available at rangers.com/academy for players ages 14 through 18.
 
Kershaw's Challenge Baseball Camp: Saturday, November 10  
 
This will mark the seventh annual Kershaw's Challenge Baseball Camp, hosted by Mercy Street. 
 
Dallas native Clayton Kershaw and his wife Ellen founded Kershaw's Challenge in 2011 and have since given over six millions dollars to support at-risk children and families around the globe. The foundation contributed generously to the building of the Academy facility, which includes Kershaw's Challenge Field named in his honor.