The Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, Presented by Toyota, will have a representative in the 2019 World Wood Bat Association (WWBA) Freshman World Championships. Colin Moore was selected to the Breakthrough Series team that will be competing in the amateur tournament put on by Perfect Game.

Moore, who is beginning eighth grade at Rogers Middle School, will play on a team of athletes who stood out during participation in MLB Breakthrough Series events. The outfielder attended the Hank Aaron Invitational hosted in Vero Beach, Fla. in July.

The WWBA Freshman World Championship Tournament is a Perfect Game event featuring over 70 teams competing at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla. from October 11-14. This will mark the seventh year of the tournament, which has seen more than 62 former participants drafted to MLB teams and 1,238 former participants ink college commitments.

Blessings in a Backpack

Academy athletes whose families face food challenges on the weekends when children aren¡¯t in school will have a new meal source this fall, thanks in part to two Rangers players.

Outfielder Hunter Pence and pitcher Lance Lynn joined The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation to partner with Blessings in a Backpack. The program mobilizes resources to provide food on the weekends to elementary school students who might otherwise go hungry, thanks in part to a grant provided through Major League Baseball Charities and Big League Impact.

Beginning September 19 and running through November 21, 100 backpacks of food will be distributed each Thursday at the Academy to families who would like following the 6:30-8:30 p.m. training sessions for 12U athletes.

Academy athletes who will benefit from the gift will join Lynn and Pence, along with Blessings in a Backpack volunteer Renaldo Cordova, in a pregame ceremony at Globe Life Park in Arlington tonight, Friday, August 30 before the Rangers host the Mariners.

Gearing Up

Baseball and softball gear donated by Texas Rangers fans as part of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Baseball Tomorrow Fund equipment drive will be headed home with Rangers Youth Academy athletes in need on Saturday, September 7 at 11:00 a.m. on Beltre Field in the Academy¡¯s Globe Life Training Complex.

Gloves, bats, cleats and more will help to equip the young baseball and softball players whose parents register in advance for the event at www.rangers.com /academy.

Additional new and used apparel and cleats has also been donated to the Academy Athletes by the Rangers clubhouse.

The equipment drive was supported by Rangers infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, while Academy Sports + Outdoors gave a $2,500.00 gift card to the Rangers Baseball Foundation for the purchase of equipment.

Fall Programming

Fall programming begins September 16 and runs through November 21. There will be no programming October 14-18 or October 31.

Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. will feature activities for 18U athletes. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. will be designed for 12U athletes. Additionally, the weight room will be available to 18U athletes from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and Mondays and 5:00-8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Registration is now available at https://texasrangersya.leagueapps.com/camps.

Fall RBI Upcoming

Preparations are underway for the fall RBI season at the Academy. The schedule is expected to be announced next week.