Boca Chica, DR — The Texas Rangers held the grand opening on Friday morning for their new 12.5 million dollar Baseball Academy in the Dominican Republic.
The state-of-the-art facility, located in Boca Chica is the new home for the organization’s international baseball program. The Academy encompasses nearly 24 acres and includes an 18,500 square foot clubhouse with 100 player lockers and large training areas and a 30,000 square foot dormitory complete with 125 beds, classrooms, and dining facilities.
The Rangers Academy will have three full baseball fields and one half field when totally completed. It was announced today that the main field, which will be the home of the Rangers’ Dominican Summer League games, will be called Adrian Beltre Field in honor of the 21-year Major League star third baseman and native of the Dominican Republic.
In addition, Buckner International will work with the Texas Rangers to provide social service ministries at the new Rangers Academy. The collaboration, referred to as the Buckner Family Hope Center Satellite at the Academy, marks the first time a Major League Baseball team will involve a nonprofit in order to serve its student-athletes’ social and educational needs.
Friday’s ceremony featured remarks from Texas Rangers Co-Chairman and Managing Partner Ray Davis, Rangers batting coach Luis Ortiz, and the Minister of Sport for the Dominican Republic Danilo Ortiz. Other special guests included the President of the Dominican Republic Danilo Medina, the United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Robin Bernstein, Rangers Chief Operating Officer Neil Leibman, Rangers President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Jon Daniels, and Rangers manager Chris Woodward.
Players in attendance included pitchers Emmanuel Clase, Jonathan Hernandez, Jose Leclerc, and Edinson Volquez, first baseman Ronald Guzman, and outfielders Danny Santana and Leody Taveras as well as the players currently housed and working out at the Academy.
Groundbreaking for the Academy took place on September 21, 2017, and the facility opened on August 30, 2019.