The local round of the Major League Baseball Jr. Home Run Derby is coming to the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, Presented by Toyota, tomorrow, Saturday, April 27.

Jr. Home Run Derby (Jr.HRD) is a free national program for boys and girls 14 years old and younger, providing players from across the country an opportunity to participate in an exciting home run hitting contest. The program includes three levels of competition – top performers from the Local level advance to the Regional level and ultimately, the National Finals prior to the MLB Home Run Derby during All-Star Week.

Competition will take place on Kershaw’s Challenge Field and Josh “Hambone” Hamilton Field from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m.

Registration is available at https://texasrangersya.leagueapps.com/ and open until the day of the event.

MLB Umpire Camp

A free, one day umpire camp hosted by MLB comes to the Academy tomorrow, Saturday, April 27. The camp is open to anyone interested in umpiring baseball and softball, including those aiming to launch professional careers.

Staff for the event will include former MLB umpires; current MLB supervisors and observers; as well as Minor League Baseball and NCAA officials. Among those participating from the MLB Umpiring Department will be Cris Jones, Ed Montague, Charlie Reliford, and Rich Rieker.

The clinic will be held, rain or shine, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Oates Field, with registration beginning at 8:00 a.m. In the event of severe weather, activities will be moved to the indoor facility. There are currently 120 registered participants for Saturday’s event.

Saturday marks the first of MLB’s 2019 Umpire Camps, which will culminate with the MLBUC Professional Mini-Camp in late December. Last year, 30 clinic attendees from across the program went on to the MLB Professional Mini-Camp at no cost. Nine of the 2018 attendees advanced on MLB scholarships to the two professional umpire schools this past January, and 12 total graduates will begin their professional careers in June.

For more information on how to participate in this camp and future MLB Umpire Camps, interested applicants can visit https://www.facebook.com/mlb.camps or e-mail [email protected].

Rangel and Marcellus Talk Breakthrough

The Rangers Youth Academy gives local youth a chance to showcase their skills not only close to home in Dallas, but also on the road through various MLB programs.

Rangers Academy participants Ricky Rangel and Joshua Marcellus are among those who will be spending extra time this summer honing their craft, as both have been invited to attend the 2019 Baseball Breakthrough Series at the Compton Youth Academy in Compton, Calif. from June 21 through 23.

“I’m looking forward to meeting new people, facing new competition, and most importantly playing some baseball,” Rangel said. “When I found out I was selected, I was very shocked and excited to play competitive baseball.”

For the Duncanville High School junior, this will not be the first time he has taken his skills on the road thanks to his involvement at the Academy. Rangel, a pitcher and shortstop, was also selected to the team that represented the Academy at the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup as part of the All-Star Game activities.

Marcellus, a junior at Sachse High School, said he was “excited and humbled” by the invitation.

“I thought, wow! All the hard work and dedication paid off,” Marcellus said. “I expect to experience some top level coaching regarding skills, and to learn the proper mental approach to the game of baseball. I am so fortunate to be a part of this great opportunity.”

Marcellus and Rangel already have some experience traveling together. Both were on the Rangers Academy RBI All-Star team that traveled to Austin last July for the RBI Southwest Regional.

And both credit their time at the Academy with helping hone their craft.

“The Academy has very much advanced my skills because they provide me with a beautiful field, indoor facility, and amazing strategies to make me better,” Rangel said.

For Marcellus, the coaching staff has been key.

“Coach Edward Taylor has been so instrumental in my development. He has really helped me improve my skills when it comes to fielding and hitting. My approach to the game and my confidence has really improved. Coach Taylor has taught me how to embrace my gift and intellect for baseball,” Marcellus said.

Established in 2008, the Breakthrough Series is a joint effort of USA Baseball and MLB, focusing on developing players on and off the field. In 2018, 25 Breakthrough Series alumni were selected in the draft.

On the softball side, Melanie Henderson-Lopez (Irving High School) and Erin Ledesma (Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School) will participate in the Breakthrough Series at the Kansas City Royals Urban Youth Academy from May 23 to 27.

High School Schedules

The regular season schedule is wrapping up for L.G. Pinkston High School and Sunset High School baseball teams, which call the Academy home all season.

Sunset, which boasts several of the top local hitters, is expected to host a home playoff game at the Academy on Friday, May 3. Additional information will be announced once their opponent has been determined.  

Pinkston wraps up its regular season slate with a game against North Dallas tonight, Friday, April 26.

Pinkston High School baseball and softball teams call the Academy home again in 2019. The facility also supports scheduling for David W. Carter High School and Sunset High School Baseball, in addition to Pinkston Middle School Softball. Various other Dallas ISD games and tournaments are played at the Academy throughout the year, too.

Spring Camp

The Academy’s Spring Training Program is entering its final week. Over 250 athletes have participated in the six weeks of programming to date.

Spring Programming is held for 18U on Mondays and Wednesdays, while training for 12U is Tuesdays and Thursdays. Activities are from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Programming runs through May 2, and registration is available at rangers.com/academy.

RBI On Deck

The 2019 Texas Rangers Youth Academy RBI Summer League gets underway next month. Softball and baseball players who participate in the RBI program also have the opportunity to work towards trying out to become Academy RBI All-Stars, traveling to represent the Academy in the RBI Southwest Regional and potentially beyond.