Player Initiatives & Programs

Each year, Dane holds several community give-back campaigns to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, an organization close to his heart.

In 2021 and 2022, Dane hosted the Stream to End MS Rocket League Showdown gaming event raising $35,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Celebrities across the Esports community supported Dane’s fundraising efforts, including LuLu Lovely.

The last two seasons, Dane partnered with the Big League Impact #ALLWIN Texas Campaign, pledging donations per strikeout and team win to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, bringing his season-end total to $15,000. He also partnered with Big League Impact in a virtual Fantasy Football League, raising $5,000 for the National MS Society, and participated in the Rangers’ MS Recognition Night at Globe Life Field.

In 2023, Dane will again partner with the Big League Impact #ALLWIN Texas Campaign donating $25 per strikeout and $50 per team win to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Inspired by their dog Benny, Mitch and his wife, Dr. Sarah Garver, established the Benny Garver Endowed Scholarship for out-of-state students studying at Oregon State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Mitch and Dr. Garver adopted Benny the Boxer from an area animal shelter in 2018 and fell so in love with their new friend they eventually adopted a second Boxer, Chupi.

Unfortunately, boxers have a hereditary predisposition to health issues, including cancer, which Benny was diagnosed with in February 2021. After pursuing treatments to give Benny the best quality of life, Mitch and Dr. Garver made the tough decision to say goodbye in May.

As part of Benny’s legacy, Mitch and Dr. Garver established the Benny Garver Endowed Scholarship, which awards an equal amount to a student in each of the four class years at OSU’s Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, which will continue for years to come. Though Benny’s life was short, his impact on the Garver family will live on forever.

In 2023, the Garver family supported the MEGA Pet Adoption event at Globe Life Field on July 29 by pledging a $10 donation to the Humane Society of North Texas for every pet adopted.

A whopping 605 pets were adopted, bringing the donation total to $6,050.

The Garvers are continuing to raise money for the Humane Society of North Texas through the pet collar mystery bandana fundraiser, which features 100 pet bandanas signed by current Texas Rangers players, with 10 lucky winners also receiving an autographed baseball.

Mystery pet collar bandanas will be available for purchase next to the Grand Slam Team Store at Globe Life Field on Friday, September 8, from gates open through the top of the fifth inning of the Rangers-A’s game.

During the 2022 season, Jon Gray and his wife, Jacklyn, established #MissionGrayWolf22, a program created to host military personnel for a unique game day experience in the Globe Life Field Batter’s Eye. Jon welcomed servicemen and women from Dyess Airforce Base, Sheppard Air Force Base, and Airmen of the 301st Fighter Wing for pre-game Q&A sessions, autographs, and photos.

In 2023, Jon will continue his #MissionGrayWolf22 military initiative for a dozen Saturday home games.

This season, Jon is also teaming up with The Birthday Party Project, a Dallas-based organization whose mission is to bring joy to children experiencing homelessness through the magic of a birthday celebration. Jon and Jacklyn will host four parties at Globe Life Field during the 2023 season for area children in need.

For the second consecutive year, Jon will donate $100 per strikeout to The Pawerful Rescue, and in 2023 added a $500 donation per personal win to Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation partner, the Adaptive Training Foundation.

In August, Jon joined his Texas Rangers athletic training staff in their annual community PLAY campaign at Globe Life Field, where he worked with 100 young ball players on pitching techniques and shared valuable life advice.

Martín established the MP33 Foundation in 2016 and has since sponsored several youth baseball teams in his hometown of Guanare, Venezuela. Martín purchases baseball equipment, team uniforms, and school supplies in the United States and ships it to Venezuela, growing the game of baseball in his community while setting students up for success in the classroom.

Shortstop Corey Seager and his wife, Mady, have actively supported North Texas youth through their 2023 community initiatives.

On August 17, Corey hosted a hitting clinic for 24 Texas Rangers Youth Academy baseball players alongside his father and longtime coach Jeff Seager.

Corey watched batters take swings before offering each athlete individual tips and tweaks to help them improve at the plate. The Seagers also circled up for questions after the clinic, where they discussed plate approach, routines, and the ups and downs baseball can bring.

Corey and Mady also gifted the athletes new Adidas backpacks, batting gloves, turf cleats, dry-fit t-shirts, water bottles, and a powder blue Texas Rangers ball cap.

In addition to occasionally dropping in on year-round Youth Academy baseball and softball programming, Corey and Mady assisted Marcus and Tarah Semien in distributing boxes of fresh produce and non-perishables at the Semien Family Food Distribution finale in early August.

In early September, the Seagers hosted a back-to-school shopping spree for 50 Arlington ISD students involved in the AISD Student Outreach Services program.

Corey and Mady shopped alongside families at the Arlington Academy Sports & Outdoors, purchasing hundreds of dollars in apparel for the middle school and high school students identified to participate.

Teammates Robbie Grossman, Josh Jung, Marcus Semien, Josh Smith, and their significant others joined the Seagers at the back-to-school event, in addition to General Manager Chris Young and family.

Since signing with the Rangers in December 2021, Marcus Semien has been active in the North Texas community.

This summer, the Semien Family donated to the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation to provide summer meals to Texas Rangers Youth Academy families through non-profit organization Food for the Soul. As part of the 10-week program, over 1,500 boxes of fresh produce and non-perishables were given to Academy athletes participating in baseball and softball programming to support their nutrition throughout the summer months.

Marcus’ teammates Josh Jung, Corey Seager, and Will Smith, along with their significant others, participated in the Semien Family Food Distribution finale on August 4 alongside Marcus, his wife Tarah, and their three sons.

Marcus also attended the 2023 Nike RBI Southwest Regional Tournament, where he joined the Rangers Nike RBI senior baseball team in the dugout and helped secure $5,000 worth of equipment courtesy of Nike.

Additionally, Semien has participated in two Equip The Future ™ events with The Players Alliance, which creates mentorship opportunities for baseball and softball players to gain insight from current and former professional players on how to be successful in the game and become better prepared for challenges faced on and off the field.

Marcus attended the Rangers Foundation’s MLK Day of Service in January 2023, which included a food distribution and Equip the Future program for 50 Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes.

For Jackie Robinson Day in Houston, Marcus and fellow Rangers teamed up with the Astros to again mentor young athletes, this time from the Astros Youth Academy and Houston area high schools.

Marcus also participated in the Texas Rangers Youth Academy 2022 Thanksgiving dinner distribution event and occasionally drops by Youth Academy baseball and softball programming to visit with the players and coaches.

Throughout the 2022 season, Tony met with military heroes recognized through the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation’s Faces of Freedom program. Tony met 18 veterans, dating back to service in World War II, and their families during pre-game batting practice.

Additionally, as he does most years, Tony and his wife, Stacy, joined the Faces of Freedom recipients on the celebratory trip to Washington, D.C., in early November. During the trip, Tony and the veterans visited the Arlington National Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial and Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Coach Bobby Wilson

Texas Rangers catching coordinator Bobby Wilson is raising money to support families battling cancer through a hoodie campaign.

Bobby designed the blue hoodies with a Texas-inspired catcher’s mask across the chest and “Hector Strong” written on the left sleeve, a message of encouragement that honors his friend and former Rangers coach Héctor Ortiz, who is currently battling cancer.

Hoodies are available for purchase in the Grand Slam Team Store at Globe Life Field for $40 each, with proceeds benefitting the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation in their mission to support families battling cancer.

The Texas Rangers athletic training staff, with help from pitcher Jon Gray, hosted their annual PBATS PLAY Campaign at Globe Life Field on Friday, August 4.

Nearly 100 youth baseball and softball players participated in this year’s event, where they were educated on the importance of living a healthy and active lifestyle and decision-making regarding performance-enhancing drugs.

PLAY, which stands for Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth, is a national public awareness campaign of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) in conjunction with the Taylor Hooton Foundation, the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, and MLB Charities.

Head athletic trainer Matt Lucero, athletic trainers Jacob Newburn and Sean Fields, strength and conditioning coaches Jose Vazquez and Albert Sandoval, and performance dietician Katie McInnis led the event.

Throughout the 2023 season, Texas Rangers players and coaches sign free pre-game autographs, presented by Golden Chick, as part of Family Fun Tuesdays.

For every Tuesday home game, Rangers will sign autographs behind section 223 from 5:30 – 6 p.m. Autographs are open to all fans in April, May, and September, and kids only in June, July, and August.

For more information, visit rangers.com/familyfun.

2023 Winter Caravan

During the offseason, the Texas Rangers took to the community to sign autographs and meet fans across Texas as part of the 2023 Winter Caravan, presented by Coca-Cola.

From January 12-29, Texas Rangers players, coaches, alumni, and broadcasters had a jam-packed month that included:

• Player appearances and autograph signings at 11 Kroger stores throughout the DFW Metroplex and beyond.
• Participating in Fan Fest for Double-A Affiliate Frisco RoughRiders and the pre-season reception for Triple-A Affiliate Round Rock Express.
• Meeting airmen and women stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base.
• Supporting fellow DFW pro sports teams, the Dallas Stars and Dallas Mavericks, at the American Airlines Center.
• Distributing food and mentoring young athletes as part of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation’s MLK Day of Service with The Players Alliance at the Rangers Youth Academy.
• Visiting Rangers 50th Anniversary Legacy Grant recipients Adaptive Training Foundation and Arlington ISD’s Peach Elementary School.
• Speaking at six civic clubs in Arlington, Dallas, Dennison, and Longview.
• Hosting a Texas Rangers Coaches’ Clinic for youth baseball and softball coaches across the Metroplex at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy.
• Signing autographs for over 7,000 fans at the 2023 Rangers Fan Fest at Globe Life Field.

Participants in the 2023 Winter Caravan included players Joe Barlow, Brock Burke, Jacob deGrom, Dane Dunning, Nathan Eovaldi, Mitch Garver, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney, Taylor Hearn, Jonah Heim, Jonathan Hernández, Josh Jung, John King, Nathaniel Lowe, Martín Pérez, Josh Sborz, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and Josh Smith, coaches Tony Beasley, Bruce Bochy, Seth Connor, Donnie Ecker, Mike Maddux, and Jose Vazquez, and broadcasters Steve Buechele, Matt Hicks, and Dave Raymond.

The Texas Rangers Families consisting of players’ wives, fiancées, and significant others, host several fundraising and community events throughout the season.

In 2022 the Texas Rangers Families hosted “Gold Ball Mystery Bag” and “Players’ Favorite Basket” fundraisers, organized back-to-school donations, the Texas Rangers Toy Drive, and participated in various community initiatives.

In 2023, Texas Rangers families created a 2023-24 Pet Calendar, led by Jacklyn Gray, to benefit The Pawerful Rescue in their work to ensure every pet has a safe home. A limited supply of calendars remains available for purchase in the Grand Slam Team Store.

Mady Seager led the 2023 Prom Series initiative, where each player family purchased back-to-school outfits and accessories for teen girls from Hope Local and donated additional clothes to the “Hope Local Closet.” Hope Local’s mission is to give vulnerable families in the community the love, support, and guidance required to find success.

Rachel Dunning will lead this year’s Gold Ball Mystery Bag fundraising event, with proceeds benefitting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Gold Ball Mystery Bags will be sold for $50 each at the Rangers-Brewers game on Friday, August 18, from gates open through the top of the fifth inning. Fans who find one of 8 “Gold Balls” also receive four tickets in the Lexus Club for a 2023 regular season game, donated by the Seagers.

The 2022 Gold Ball Mystery fundraiser raised over $25,000 for families impacted by the unspeakable shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

On Friday, September 8, Texas Rangers families will raise money for the Humane Society of North Texas through the pet collar mystery bandana fundraiser that features 100 pet bandanas signed by current Texas Rangers players, with 10 lucky winners also receiving an autographed baseball.

Led by Mitch and Sarah Garver, a practicing veterinarian, the mystery pet collar bandanas will be available for purchase next to the Grand Slam Team Store at Globe Life Field from gates open through the top of the fifth inning of the Rangers-A’s game.

Jacklyn Gray will lead the Rangers Families in hosting the “Players’ Favorite Basket” silent auction at the September 22 Rangers-Mariners game, with proceeds benefiting The Birthday Party Project.

Fans may bid on an assortment of baskets created by players’ significant others stuffed with autographed items and a collection of their favorite things.

The auction will take place on the main concourse next to the Grand Slam Team Store from 5 p.m. to the top of the fifth inning. Fans may also bid online at rangers.com/playerbaskets when the event begins.

Texas Rangers Families also regularly participate in volunteer activities around the community, including the Semien Family Food Distributions that took place at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy this summer.

Former Rangers third baseman and current Bally Sports Southwest broadcaster Steve Buechele frequently visits the Texas Rangers Youth Academy in West Dallas. In 2022, Buechele joined the action on-field at the Rangers Nike RBI Takeover event during PLAY BALL Weekend to toss the ceremonial first pitch and coach a participating team.

In April 2023, Buechele teamed up with fellow Rangers alum Mark McLemore to participate in C5 Texas’ student-led leadership summit. The nonprofit C5 Texas received one of the Rangers Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Legacy Grants in 2022. Buechele worked with over 50 DFW-based students, sharing advice and answering questions during the career exploration portion of the week-long summit.

Mark McLemore, former Rangers player and current Bally Sports Southwest Broadcaster, coached a youth team at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy during the 2022 Rangers Nike RBI Takeover event in June. Joining McLemore at the event was fellow Rangers Alumni Steve Buechele, who coached the opposing team.

McLemore also participated in the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation’s press event announcing the 50th Anniversary Legacy Grant Program and assisted in a $5,000 check presentation to the Sam Houston High School baseball team.

In 2023, McLemore teamed up with fellow Rangers alum Steve Buechele to participate in C5 Texas’ student-led leadership summit. The nonprofit C5 Texas received one of the Rangers Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Legacy Grants in 2022. McLemore worked with over 50 DFW-based students, sharing advice and answering questions during the career exploration portion of the week-long summit.

José Guzmán (1985-1992)

In 2022, José participated in the PlayersTV Hispanic Heritage event in collaboration with DFW organization Primos Dallas. During the event, Latino, Hispanic, and Mexican pro-athletes from the Metroplex, including José, interacted with and mentored children in the community to help establish connections they can utilize in the future.

José also traveled to Uvalde, Texas, with representatives from the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and Houston Astros Foundation. There he participated in a community picnic in conjunction with the announcement that MLB would donate funds from the Winter Meeting’s charity auction to establish a new Boys & Girls Club following the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School.

Darren Oliver (1993-98, 2000-01)

Darren hosts an annual end-of-the-year holiday party to assist families that have completed financial education courses by offering a helping hand as they work to break the poverty cycle and provide a better life for their children.

Families from Arlington Urban Ministries that have completed the Thriving Families Program and Buckner International Families that have completed the Faith & Finance Classes receive invitations to celebrate the holidays with Darren and his family.

Party guests receive dinner, gift cards for the children and adults, toys, and household essentials.

Each year dozens of Texas Rangers alumni participate in the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation Golf Tournament, playing alongside community members and sponsors in the 18-hole charity golf event.