HOUSTON -- Astros owner Jim Crane announced Saturday that the club and the Astros Foundation are donating $2.5 million to build three new youth baseball/softball fields, two practice fields, batting cages and other amenities in Ingram, Texas, a community that was devastated by the July 4 floods in Central Texas.
“Not only is this a commitment of funds, but the Astros will lead the renovations and are committed to having it ready for the beginning of the season in the spring of 2026,” Crane said in a statement.
The announcement was made Saturday at Daikin Park as the Astros hosted Central Texas Strong Day, with more than 1,000 Kerr County and local Houston area residents impacted by the July 4 flooding attending the game against the Mariners as guests of the Astros Foundation.
The Astros brought seven busloads of fans from throughout Kerr County. They were escorted to the ballpark by the City of Houston’s police force once they hit suburban Houston. Astros manager Joe Espada and star players Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa addressed the audience.
“The Astros are stepping up and doing some special things for our communities,” Espada said. “Anything that happens around our neck of the woods, Jim Crane and the Astros Foundation step up and provide resources to help our community and I think that’s very important for us to recognize.”
The Astros Foundation, together with the Community Foundation of Texas Hill Country, Major League Baseball, the Texas Rangers, a number of other MLB teams, as well as Texas-based baseball programs and foundations, will help maintain the fields.
“The Ingram Little League Ballpark is a cherished local institution that has served over 200 youth each year for the past 35 years,” said Emelda Douglas, Astros senior vice president of community affairs and executive director of the Astros Foundation. “We are honored to be able to help rebuild and maintain a place that is an anchor for the community to gather and also aligns with our mission and values of supporting and growing youth sports and education.”