When James Malone took the mound at Globe Life Field on Aug. 4, only five regular season Major League Baseball games had been played at the Rangers new ballpark.

“Thinking back about it, it’s definitely something that is like a dream come true. I really didn’t do that great that game. I didn’t start off that well. But it was crazy, just pitching on a real MLB mound. I watch the Rangers play on TV, and I’ll be like, ‘man, I pitched on that rubber,’” the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, presented by Toyota, participant said of getting the start in the RBI Senior Division All-Star game held at the facility.

Malone made his way to 2303 Bicker’s Street in Dallas this summer for the Academy’s RBI League after his junior season at DeSoto High School came to an abrupt ending due to COVID-19.

“We could have made a run. We could have gone far. Getting it cut was emotional. It was brutal,” Malone reflected of a season that ended after the first tournament of the year. But the experience made him value the opportunity to return to play at the Academy this summer.

“Coming back out here, it’s almost like you played with more drive, more intensity. You were eager every at-bat. You didn’t take it for granted anymore. You really went out and gave it 110 percent every time,” Malone said.

The lefty tapped into that mentality when his Eagles handed him the ball for the quarter finals start of the RBI Wood Bat Tournament against the Hard Hitters.

“Knowing that I was going to be the starting pitcher, I couldn’t allow the game to have an outcome that would look bad on me. If I was going to be pitching that game, I was going to make sure I’d have a good impact on it,” Malone said of his mindset going into the game.

He responded by fanning 18 batters over seven frames of one-hit ball. When his parents asked later what was clicking for him in the game, he was at a loss to fully explain the mentality.

“It was kind of like somewhere I had never really gone before. The greats, they always say, ‘you go in, give it your all. Go in with a dog mentality.’ That game, I really did that. It was like tunnel vision almost. I can’t really remember how I felt. At the beginning of the game, I had that drive and it just never left.”

Academy Director Juan Leonel Garciga has no problem remembering the game.

“Having a front row seat in the press box to James’ 18 strikeout game was a real treat for me. In a year where we can’t watch any regular season MLB games in person, this was hands down the best baseball performance I was able to experience in 2020,” Garciga said. “He was completely locked in, and a part of me was in fan mode while serving as the official scorer that evening.

Video of Malone discussing his time at the Academy is available here.

With his senior year underway, Malone isn’t just dreaming of one day taking a Major League mound again. He’s also working on the next steps to achieve his goals – a good GPA, staying healthy, and finding a college where he can take his game next year.

His time at the Academy helped him keep playing the game he’s loved for 11 years, despite the pandemic’s interruption.

“If we wouldn’t have had these games out here, I would have a long period of time where I wasn’t playing baseball, wasn’t really aware of the work I needed to put in and all that kind of stuff,” Malone said. “It definitely helped me stay on track for everything.”

Fall RBI Softball Underway

The fall season of RBI softball kicked off at the Academy on Monday, Oct. 12, and is slated to run through Saturday, Dec. 5.

The complete schedule is listed below. Scheduling is subject to change, and updates can be found by following the Rangers Youth Academy on social media.

Dallas Parks and Rec will host the fall season of RBI baseball.

Fall Training Programs in Full Swing

Baseball and softball players ages 7 through 18 are working on their skills in the Academy’s free Fall Training Program. 

Registration is determined by age, while group placement is evaluated by the Academy’s coaching staff to determine the appropriate skill level for participants.

The daily schedule for activities is listed below.

Programming follows all of MLB’s return to play guidelines with the goal of keeping athletes, coaches, and staff safe and healthy.

Registration is available at texasrangersya.leagueapps.com.

West Dallas Little League

Mercy Street Dallas’s West Dallas Little League opened play Monday, Sept. 21.

Games are being played at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex. Registration is available at mercystreetdallas.org.

Buckner Virtual Programming

Academy athletes are continuing to take part in virtual classes offered by Buckner International’s Family Hope Center at the Rangers MLB Youth Academy. Online classes in both English and Spanish are being offered, while in-person classes will resume at a future date.