Choo hosts Miracle League baseball clinic
Outfielder joined by teammate Scheppers in camp for special-needs children
SOUTHLAKE, Texas -- Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo hosted a baseball clinic for Southlake Miracle League campers Thursday at Carroll High School.
Alongside Rangers pitcher Tanner Scheppers and bench coach Steve Buechele, Choo spent the afternoon teaching 25 Miracle League players the basics of hitting, catching and pitching. Hosting the Miracle League Baseball Clinic was a natural fit for Choo, who focuses his foundation time on helping children in the community.
"The first focus of my foundation is kids, I like to help kids," Choo said. "I had a great experience with [Miracle League] in the past, and I wanted to host an event."
In addition to teaching baseball techniques to the young campers, Choo donated a Rangers backpack, an autographed baseball and a T-shirt to each camper. Members of the Carroll varsity baseball team joined the Rangers players to teach and mentor the 25 athletes.
"Getting out here and spending time with the kids really puts things in perspective. [Miracle League] is really one of the greatest organizations," Scheppers said.
The Miracle League provides opportunities for all children to play baseball, regardless of their abilities. The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation has partnered with Miracle League since 2005 and is in the second year of its partnership with the Miracle League of Southlake.
"Seeing these kids have a good time and playing baseball will be an experience that will stick with them the rest of their lives," said Phil Meyer, president of the Miracle League of Southlake.
The Rangers' foundation helped fund the Southlake Miracle League Field, which broke ground in 2013. The new Southlake field is scheduled to open next September.