The multi-site Phillies MLB Youth Academy is comprised of both outdoor and indoor facilities to provide free, year-round instruction to the more than 5,000 Phillies Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) players in Philadelphia.
The Ryan Howard Training Center at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center in South Philadelphia is a 7,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art training center added to the existing recreation and includes four retractable batting cages similar to those at the Phillies minor league spring training site in Clearwater, Fla.
The center also includes space for fitness training, educational and vocational programs. In addition to this new facility, the academy consists of an outdoor location at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park in South Philadelphia with two baseball fields and two softball fields. The Philadelphia Area Chevy Dealers are a proud sponsor of the Phillies MLB Youth Academy.
America at Bat: The Color of Baseball is an educational piece that asks those utilizing the curriculum to examine, critically think about and understand the history of the Negro Leagues. The curriculum allows for an understanding of what was taking place in the United States, and at times, internationally, while the Negro Leagues were in existence.
On Wednesday, March 4, senior student-athletes from the Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy signed letters of intent to play college baseball and softball at a first-time "Signing Night" celebratory event.
Thanks to the Peggy Spiegler Melanoma Research Foundation and White Aisle Foundation, the softball dugouts at the Phillies Urban Youth Academy (UYA) at FDR Park are now covered with new sun shades.
The Phillies hosted a their Play Ball Weekend on May 18 and 19 at the Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy.
In celebration of MLK Day on Jan. 21, 2019, the Phillies and Chevrolet teamed up to host a free clinic for young ballplayers. Area youth playing ball through the Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy and RBI program took part in an instructional clinic led by Phillies outfielder Nick Williams, 1993 National League Champions Mickey Morandini and Milt Thompson, and RBI alumni.
Youth Academy kids take part in a pitching and hitting clinic with Phillies Minor League prospects on Jan. 9, 2018.
A group of young ballplayers from Uganda pay a visit to Philly to play ball at the Phillies' Youth Academy Showcase Field.
The new Phillies Youth Academy was formally unveiled on July 21, 2016, and it was announced that the facility will be called the Ryan Howard Training Center. The 7,500-square-foot training center was added to the existing Marian Anderson Recreation Center, and it includes four retractable batting cages, plus space for fitness training, educational and vocational programs.
