Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy

World-class indoor and outdoor facilities

The multi-site Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy is comprised of both outdoor and indoor facilities to provide free year-round instruction to the more than 6,000 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 Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy is supported locally by Morgan & Morgan and Topps.

America at Bat: The Color of Baseball

Examining the history of the Negro Leagues

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.

Youth Academy Events

Phillies celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day

On Feb. 7, the Phillies Youth Baseball & Softball Development team, along with female leaders from the front office, celebrated National Girls & Women in Sports Day with two special events.

Jennie Finch Youth Academy Pitching Tour

Jennie Finch visited the Phillies UYA Softball Fields in August as part of her Youth Academy Pitching Tour. Thirty UYA/RBI softball players got to learn from Jennie during her pitching clinic.

Allen honored with field dedication at MLB UYA

The legacy of Dick Allen will continue for generations to come, thanks to the newly named Dick Allen Field at the Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy, as announced by the Phillies and City of Philadelphia during a field dedication ceremony at FDR Park in South Philadelphia.

Phillies Signing Night for UYA Players

Phillies Urban Youth Academy seniors sign letters of intent to play college baseball and softball at a "Signing Night" celebratory event.

Phillies UYA Signing Night

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.

New sun shades for dugouts at Phillies UYA

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.

Play Ball 2019

The Phillies hosted a their Play Ball Weekend on May 18 and 19 at the Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy.

Phillies MLK Clinic

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.

Prospects Clinic

Youth Academy kids take part in a pitching and hitting clinic with Phillies Minor League prospects on Jan. 9, 2018.

Uganda LL team visits Phillies

A group of young ballplayers from Uganda pay a visit to Philly to play ball at the Phillies' Youth Academy Showcase Field.

Youth Academy History

Phillies UYA Facility named after Howard

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.