A couple of teenagers stepped out onto a youth baseball field in West Dallas on Friday and fired a couple of pitches — to a couple of former Texas Rangers and on turf that witnessed the Rangers become World Series Champions.
The 2024 All-Star Legacy initiative showed off renovations at the Mercy Street Complex on Friday that included the installation of turf used during the 2023 World Series at Globe Life Field.
The Texas Rangers Youth Academy started renovations in February on the field, which was constantly being damaged by heavy rain, leading to frequent cancellations of games, tournaments and practices.
In addition to the installation of turf used during the World Series, renovations included new fencing, netting, scoreboards, shade structures over existing bleacher and dugouts.
“This investment of the field, well turf being used by Texas Rangers World Series champions, so it comes with a very special meaning but it’s going to allow the youth to play all year long, so it is now sustainable, and games will not be canceled. They can practice and have tournaments and games every day of the year,” said April Brown, MLB senior vice president of social responsibility.
The project is part of 2024 All-Star Legacy program that includes a combined investment of almost $7 million for projects that support youth in Arlington, Dallas and Fort Worth. Other initiatives celebrated this week include a mural at the Artes de La Rosa Cultural Center for the Arts in Fort Worth, renovations at the Mission Arlington Mission Metroplex Medical Clinic and a project at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County.
“This is great, this is encouragement not just for baseball but for the academics and for their lives all the way through,” said Candace Hubbard, whose 14-year-old son Braylon is a member of the Youth Academy.
Last year, the Rangers Youth Academy lost over two months of play due to heavy rain. The academy has an enrollment of 5,000 young athletes and has served 125,000 since its opening in 2016.
Amaad Garrett, 17, a member of the Texas Ranger Youth Academy since its opening in 2016, and Edgar Morales, 16, fired the first pitches.
“I feel really honored, I grew up playing in this field and to be able to see its transformation its pretty extraordinary, it is a surreal experience as well be here for the All-Star game with my teammates, celebrate the opening and the growth and development of our academy,” Garrett said. “Never give up on your dreams.”
Garrett and Edgar threw their pitches to Mark McLemore, who played second base and outfield for the Texas Rangers in the 1990s, and Darren Oliver, who had several pitching stints with the Rangers in the 1990s and 2000s.
“It’s great for me to be able to give back and give kids an opportunity to play in a very nice facility,” McLemore said.
The first game of the renovated field followed the ceremony, played by athletes from the Texas Rangers Youth Academy during the All-Star Commissioner’s Cup.
“If you have a young person in your life, go to playball.org and find free clinics for kids and hopefully they start to love the game,” Brown added.
