Academy Notebook: Academy athletes featured in Texas Rangers City Connect reveal; Rangers Nike RBI; Jordan Gilreath reflects on Trailblazer Series

Three Youth Academy athletes featured in Texas Rangers City Connect reveal

After years of planning, the Texas Rangers on Monday released their new Nike City Connect uniforms, which pay homage to Arlington, Dallas and Fort Worth.

As part of the Rangers uniform release, three Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes modeled clothing for the team’s announcement.

Carter Washington, a Life School Red Oak student, Savannah Vargas, a Rosemont Middle School student, and Kayla Clemmons, a Young Women’s STEAM Academy student, can be seen wearing the new Rangers City Connect clothing line in select marketing materials.

The young athletes, pictured below at the West Dallas Academy, help further the Rangers' theme of connecting cities across the Metroplex while showcasing baseball and softball’s future stars who “Dream the Big Dream” each time they step up to the plate at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy.

The Rangers will debut their new City Connect threads at Globe Life Field for tonight’s 7:05 p.m. matchup versus the Oakland Athletics.

To learn more about the Rangers City Connect uniforms and story, visit rangers.com/cityconnect.

Major League Baseball announces Nike as presenting sponsor of Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program

Last Friday, April 14, Major League Baseball announced Nike as the presenting sponsor of its Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program.

With this expanded partnership, MLB and Nike will work together to create a new future for diamond sports by growing the RBI program and increasing access to baseball and softball in underserved communities.

The Texas Rangers and Texas Rangers Youth Academy have long been involved in Major League Baseball’s RBI program, now known as Nike RBI and is among the 200-plus programs operating in cities across the globe.

The Rangers’ program will hereby be referred to as Rangers Nike RBI. The Rangers Nike RBI season will kick off in the coming weeks, with hundreds of athletes ages 13-18 participating in the junior and senior baseball and softball divisions.

Rangers Nike RBI All-Stars will be selected this summer to participate in July’s Nike RBI Southwest Regional, with hopes of advancing to the Nike RBI World Series in Vero Beach this August.

Jordan Gilreath reflects on MLB Develops Trailblazer Series

Jordan Gilreath, a Pioneer Technology and Arts Academy eighth grader, was one of two Rangers Academy athletes at last weekend’s MLB Develops Trailblazer Series.

Held at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla., the four-day series, established in 2017, annually brings together nearly 100 female baseball players in conjunction with MLB’s Jackie Robinson Day celebration.

Gilreath’s selection for the invitation-only Trailblazer Series, alongside Rangers Academy athlete Aaliyah Marquez, is the most recent milestone in her young playing career.

After joining the Texas Rangers Youth Academy this spring to develop her baseball and softball skills, Gilreath has made a quick name for herself by regularly attending programming and participating in special events such as the MLB GRIT: Girls ID Tour and Lauren Chamberlain’s National Girls and Women in Sports Day camp.

“[Being selected for the Trailblazers Series] meant so much to me,” she said. “To me, it means that the baseball world appreciates females in the sport of baseball, not just softball. The takeaway was there are many girls who are true ballers and want to go far in baseball. It's like a whole new world was opened up to me.”

In her Trailblazer Series debut, Gilreath was thrilled to share the experience with young women from across North America connected by their love for baseball, made possible by the sport’s most notable trailblazer, Jackie Robinson.

“As both African American and Indigenous, I understand that barriers were put in place so that people like me would not succeed, but Jackie Robinson showed that we shouldn't let anything stand in our way. He went through so much so that we don't have to,” said Gilreath.

“We watched the movie 42 at Trailblazers, and I can't imagine going through what he did, but I'm thankful for the sacrifice he made.”

While in Fla., athletes worked with notable women across baseball, including Mo’ne Davis, Veronica Alvarez, Kelsie Whitmore, Ila Borders, and Bianca Smith, as well as members of the Women’s National Team like Rachelle Henley and Alex Hugo.

“Coach Alex Hugo was my favorite coach. I met her at the GRIT tour in Dallas,” said Gilreath. "She's a great teacher, funny and down to earth. She called me 'J Money' at Trailblazers and I thought that was cool. She keeps the game fun but makes sure we are learning the right way.”

During on-field training, Gilreath recalled working with Hugo on defensive drills to help improve balance and quickness, both tools she can use while playing first base and outfield, her two positions on the diamond.

“Coach Alex also told me in the cage to be violent when I swing. That's not a word girls use a lot, but it made me feel strong, like, ‘Yes, I can swing hard.’ I went four for five at the plate in two scrimmages,” she added.

Lessons learned off the field were just as impactful for Gilreath, who emphasizes being a great person and student above all else.

She said some of the key takeaways were, “Stay focused. Do things the Robinson Way. Keep your priorities right."

Gilreath pushed herself to new heights last weekend and is excited to use the lessons learned when she plays Nike RBI Baseball this summer.

“I'm excited and nervous [to play baseball]. I will have to use a heavier bat and play with all boys,” she said. “I started playing baseball with my brothers but have since played softball. It will be a cool experience to play baseball, and I think it will help me continue to be a well-rounded student-athlete.”

The four-day Trailblazer Series was eye-opening for Gilreath. She developed on and off the field, made new friends, including her roommate from New Jersey— the first New Jerseyite she’d ever met and ultimately got to “play baseball with a lot of great girls.”

When reflecting on her Trailblazer Series experience, Gilreath said, “We are showing the boys and the adults that girl baseball players just want to be able to compete and have fun, just like any other kid.

“What I've learned is that being a trailblazer doesn't mean you get to enjoy the trail you blaze sometimes, but you make the trail easier for the people that come behind you.”

Baseball & softball

Jr. Home Run Derby (Baseball): Round One – April 30, 2023

Sluggers ages 10-14 can register for the Texas Rangers Youth Academy Jr. Home Run Derby on April 30. Round one winners will advance to the regional competition where they’ll swing for a spot in MLB’s Jr. Home Run Derby National Finals in Seattle. Register here.

Jr. Home Run Derby (Softball): Round One – April 30, 2023

Sluggers ages 12-16 can register for the Texas Rangers Youth Academy Jr. Home Run Derby on April 30. Round one winners will advance to the regional competition where they’ll swing for a spot in MLB’s Jr. Home Run Derby National Finals in Seattle. Register here.