Academy Notebook: MLB’s RBI for RBI Scholarship; Wesley Grant commits to Millsaps College; Women’s History Month Spotlight: Jesse Malone?

Major League Baseball opens RBI for RBI Scholarship application

Major League Baseball this week opened its RBI for RBI Scholarship application for athletes in the U.S. and Puerto Rico participating in the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program.

As part of the annual scholarship program, MLB provides 12 student-athletes scholarships renewable up to $20,000 to apply toward tuition, fees, books and supplies required for coursework at accredited two-year colleges, four-year colleges, vocational schools and technical schools.

Applicants who meet the GPA requirement of 2.75 or above must submit high school transcripts or GED documentation, a 2022-23 FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) and a letter of recommendation to be considered for the award.

Additionally, applicants are asked to provide information on community service and volunteer work, extracurricular activities and any awards or scholarships received.

The final step of the application will ask students to reflect and answer the following short essay prompts:

• Pick an experience from your own life and explain how it has influenced who you are today. (500 Words)
• Why do you want a college education? (200 Words)
• How has the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program affected your life? (200 Words)
• Identify and describe one quality that you believe sets you apart from your peers. (200 Words)

The deadline to apply for the 2023 RBI for RBI Scholarship is Friday, May 5. Applicants will be notified of their selection in June.

Past Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes to receive an RBI for RBI Scholarship include Erin Ledesma in 2020, Charity Vernon in 2021, and Ian Williams and Kaila Torres in 2022.

Wesley Grant Commits to Millsaps College

Long-time Texas Rangers Youth Academy athlete Wesley Grant announced his commitment to further his education and baseball career at Millsaps College.

Grant, a Ray Braswell High School senior and threat across the diamond with experience pitching, playing middle infield and outfield, officially announced his commitment to Millsaps in December 2022.

After a long and competitive college recruitment process attending various showcases, tournaments and self-promoting via online videos, Grant attended the Best in the U.S. Showcase at Globe Life Field and found his future home in Millsaps College.

“Through many conversations with the recruiting coordinator and coaching staff, my family and I were invited for an official visit to the Millsaps campus,” said Grant. “During the visit, I met with the head coach [Jim Page] and I really appreciated the coach's urge for development in his current players and the opportunity for me to play immediately as a freshman was a big part of my decision. A couple of weeks later, I decided to commit to Millsaps College, ending my recruitment process.”

Grant, who plans to study mathematics and statistics while at Millsaps, is eager to get to Jackson, Miss., this fall and hit the ground running.

“While playing for Millsaps, I will be bringing my ability to not shy away from the moment and give 110% effort on every play, creating an atmosphere in which my effort and attitude can become contagious towards the rest of the team, hopefully, generating a lot of success,” said Grant.

Throughout his college recruitment process, Grant continued to train and fine-tune his skills at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy, which he credits for helping prepare him for the next step in his playing career.

“Playing at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy has prepared me for college ball with its coaches and mentors who have guided me throughout my baseball career in every way,” said Grant. “Whether going through the physical drills and lessons or going into depth about the mental side of the game, the Youth Academy has enabled a sense of determination within me to become the best athlete and the best person I can be.”

Grant will use the lessons learned at the Rangers Youth Academy to accomplish his goals for his freshman season and beyond as he looks to transition into the next phase of his baseball journey.

“Overall, the college recruitment process for baseball can be long and involved, but it can also be a rewarding experience for players who are passionate about the sport and committed to their academic and athletic goals, just as I was,” he said. “The recruitment process taught me the importance of patience and never giving up on your dreams.”

Grant is thrilled to have found his home at Millsaps College and will take the field for the Majors later this year following his high school graduation in May.

Women’s History Month Spotlight: Jesse Malone

Jesse Malone, Manager of Texas Rangers Youth Academy Outreach & Education Programs, can be considered one of the original members of the Youth Academy family.

Getting her start with the Rangers as a part-time intern at the Youth Ballpark in Arlington, Malone saw the completion of construction at 2303 Bickers Street, was hired as the Youth Academy intern and eventually became a permanent addition to the staff in January 2018.

Malone, a first-generation college student who studied marketing at Texas Woman’s University, never dreamed she’d find a career in youth sports but has no regrets about the path she’s taken.

“I didn't think this is what I was going to become,” said Malone. “When I became an intern, I thought it was just a short six-month period that I'd be here, and now I'm helping impact lives every day, which is not something I expected.”

With countless contributions to the Youth Academy, Malone’s influence can be most felt off the field through her work with partners like Mercy Street, Dallas ISD and the Dallas Housing Authority, as well as leading various community outreach initiatives. Malone is also responsible for overseeing educational programming run by Buckner International and creating Academy programs like the career workshop series, college test prep courses and tutoring sessions that benefit student-athletes of all ages.

Malone has made it a personal mission to make sure every child that walks through the Academy doors is ready to succeed in the future no matter their path.

Whether these student-athletes be entering the workforce, joining the military, or attending a trade school or college, Malone takes great pride in knowing kids are better off having taken part in off-field programming offered at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy, in addition to developing valuable on-field skills.

“They're all strong and independent, whether it be our young men or our young women, I want them to know they have opportunities outside of baseball and softball, and within baseball and softball through front office careers they don't think about that keep them close to the game they love,” she said.

These lessons and more are especially important to the young female athletes that Malone and the Rangers Youth Academy coaching staff guide and mentor year-round.

“Our athletes need [strong female mentors] because it shows them that you can do anything. I think, unfortunately, women, in general, are very meek and don't ask for what they want, so having strong role models that show you can ask for what you want helps them grow their skills in negotiating or just knowing their worth, which is especially important nowadays,” said Malone.

Beyond the extensive work she does behind the scenes, being present for the athletes is one of Malone’s biggest priorities.

“I love being there,” she said. “When I get to go to college signing days, for example, it's really great because as a first-generation college student, seeing other students that are more than likely first-generation or in general going to college, which is a big thing, it’s great to see them taking those next steps.”

After five-plus years with the ball club, Malone hasn’t forgotten those who first inspired her to greatness, including her mom above all, and professional U.S. Women’s National Team soccer stars Abby Wambach and Becky Sauerbrunn who've made it a mission to fight for women’s equality in sports throughout every step of their careers.

Malone knows the importance of equality for these young athletes as she witnesses both boys and girls giving their all on the baseball and softball diamonds each day, especially as the Academy reaches new heights for its softball program.

“Seeing the growth of the [softball] program has been pretty great,” she said. “We used to have only about two girls come out, and now to see the program grow and see these young women, whether it be the ones that come out for 9U programming or 18U programming, I'm excited to see what they do. They're all hard workers, they seem to know exactly what they want, they have good heads on their shoulders and that's going to change the world. They’re going to kick down some doors, and they're going to break glass ceilings.”

With influential women like Malone setting the example and laying the groundwork for young men and women to follow, there is no limit for the next generation of history-makers in West Dallas.

“At the end of the day, I think we're going to impact a lot more lives just by being here, helping kids win scholarships, helping them know there are multiple paths and helping break the cycle of poverty in the neighborhood.”

The Texas Rangers Youth Academy has a long and bright future ahead. Remember the name Jesse Malone as this humble young woman plays a massive role in equipping DFW student-athletes with the knowledge and tools to reach their fullest potential.