Academy Notebook: Most memorable moments from 2023

The best of 2023

As the year nears its end, the Texas Rangers Youth Academy can reflect on victories at every turn, from incredible on-field performances and unforgettable travel opportunities to numerous successes off the field in the classroom and community.

With countless memories made in 2023, Texas Rangers Youth Academy staff joined forces to narrow down the triumphs and identify the absolute best moments from this past year.

Let’s hear it for the girls

The young women of the Texas Rangers Youth Academy flexed their muscles on the softball and baseball diamond this year, with three of the most notable accomplishments belonging to Aliyah Marquez, Amira Forbit and Savannah Vargas.

At MLB’s 2023 Andre Dawson Classic 12U Tournament, Marquez competed as the only girl among all participating baseball teams and was a force on the mound and at the plate, also earning the honor to partake in the Andre Dawson Classic’s ceremonial first pitch.

Another powerhouse at the plate, Forbit, proved she was the nation’s best 14U softball slugger during Seattle’s All-Star Week, earning the title of Jr. Home Run Derby National Champion, making her the first Rangers Academy softball player to hoist the trophy.

On the international stage, Vargas earned the incredible honor of being named to the 15U Mexico National Team roster, which presented her the opportunity to compete in Tokyo, Japan, at the 2023 Women's Softball World Cup.

Battle tested

The Texas Rangers Youth Academy annually competes in dozens of baseball tournaments, two of the most prestigious being the Commissioner’s Cup and Nike RBI Southwest Regionals.

2023 yielded strong results for the Rangers’ baseball teams across the board, with three championship game appearances.

The 17U All-Star Commissioner’s Cup team reached the championship for the first time in Academy history, while at the Nike RBI Regional Tournament, the junior baseball team advanced to their championship game for the first time since their initial appearance in 2018, and the senior team punched their tickets to the championship game for the second consecutive year.

Legends in the house

Jennie Finch and Lauren Chamberlain, a pair of former Team USA Softball legends, made the trip to West Dallas this year to host exclusive camps for the Texas Rangers Youth Academy.

As part of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Chamberlain, one of the greatest college softball players of all time, hosted a free PLAY BALL event for 100 young girls from the DFW Metroplex.

In July, two-time Olympic medalist Finch hosted a clinic of her own, offering one-of-a-kind high-level instruction to a small group of elite Academy pitchers and catchers.

Show me the money

The talent of Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes knows no bounds, extending beyond the field and into the classroom and community. Six deserving athletes raked in a combined $90,000 in scholarship dollars this year to continue their pursuit of higher education.

Nicholas Garcia and Kobe Villa were among the dozen Nike RBI Athletes across the country selected to receive MLB’s 2023 “RBI for RBI” Scholarships, while Elyjah Anderson and Trenity Okedele were awarded this year’s Rangers Nike RBI Scholarships, sponsored by first baseman Nathaniel Lowe.

Rangers Executive Vice President & General Manager Chris Young and his family also established a new Young Family Scholarship program in 2023 that will annually award one baseball and one softball player $20,000. This year’s deserving winners were Daxton Macias and Chandler Vernon.

Thanks, Mr. President

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick made his first trip to the Rangers Youth Academy earlier this year as part of the team’s Jackie Robinson Day celebration.

Kendrick, a highly regarded storyteller, shared in great detail the history of baseball’s Negro Leagues and its talented ballplayers in a captivating presentation.

While this was his first time coming to the West Dallas facility, Kendrick is a familiar face to Academy athletes after having hosted several young Rangers teams at the Kansas City-based Negro Leagues Baseball Museum as part of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Invitational, presented by Comerica Bank, now entering its fourth year.

Peak performances

There is no shortage of elite talent at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy, but every once in a while, these kids are unstoppable and for Destan Burks and Trace Spann in particular, 2023 was a very, very good year.

To kick off the year at the 2023 Cat Osterman Tournament, Burks led her Rangers softball team to a runner-up finish after putting on what seemed like a weekend-long hitting clinic, finishing 8-for-12 at the plate, with a home run, four doubles and six runs scored.

In a similar fashion, Spann, at this year’s Nike RBI Southwest Regional Tournament, was the clear MVP for the Rangers Nike RBI senior baseball All-Star team. Most notably, in the opening game of pool play, Spann hit a pair of doubles and a massive home run to help the Rangers secure the late innings come-from-behind win, which would be a difference-making victory in their advancement to the championship game.

Shooting to stardom

As part of the Rangers’ City Connect uniform unveiling, Academy athletes Kayla Clemmons, Savannah Vargas and Carter Washington modeled the new jersey and clothing line for the team’s announcement video, which would go on to earn a Short List recognition in the “61 second to 5 minutes” video category at the 2023 Clio Sports Awards.

More power to you

Ana Gonzalez, who recently signed with Vernon College softball, was named the 2023 recipient of the Jennie Finch Empowerment Award, which includes a $10,000 college scholarship, at this year’s MLB Develops and USA Softball Breakthrough Series.

Given annually to the player who demonstrates characteristics like leadership, motivation, commitment, humility and integrity, an MLB panel, headlined by Finch, selected Gonzalez for best exemplifying these traits and as part of the win, she was recognized at Globe Life Field ahead of Game 2 at the World Series.

Sign & Surprise

In August, Miranda Castaneda, one of the Academy’s longest-tenured softball players, announced her commitment to continuing her education and playing career at Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, Miss.

Castaneda’s NLI signing ceremony, which took place at the Rangers Youth Academy, got even better when Academy Senior Director Juan Leonel Gárciga surprised her with news that she has been named the Texas Rangers Youth Academy’s 2023 Youth of the Year.

In addition to the prestigious title, she received a $10,000 college scholarship, presented by Coca-Cola, and recognition during pre-game ceremonies at Game 2 of the World Series.

You got schooled

Opportunities at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy span far beyond baseball and softball training and in 2023, the Cole Hamel Classrooms were the site of several brand-new programs.

This summer, the Rangers teamed up with Lockheed Martin to host the Academy’s first high school STEM course, where students bridged the gap between sports and the principles of STEM through classroom work and hands-on experimenting.

Also for the first time this year, the UMPS CARE Official Leadership Program held a six-week umpire training course that produced 34 Youth Academy graduates, who earned the certification needed to get paid to umpire local youth games.

The University of Texas at Arlington’s Associate Athletic Director, Mishael Berger, also offered some valuable pointers to Rangers Youth Academy and Nike RBI Austin athletes on the college athletics recruitment process.

Take me out to the ballgame

Throughout the 2023 MLB Postseason, thanks to several Rangers partners, dozens of Youth Academy athletes were invited to Globe Life Field to witness the Texas Rangers’ historical World Series-winning run first-hand. For most, it was their first-ever postseason baseball game, which will surely not be forgotten anytime soon.