TEXAS RANGERS TO CELEBRATE INAUGURAL ‘PLAY BALL WEEKEND’ AS PART OF
LEAGUE-WIDE SUPPORT OF YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN BASEBALL & SOFTBALL
Rangers Schedule PLAY BALL Events for May 14 and 15
All Texas Rangers Players to Wear Special PLAY BALL Attire, Including T-Shirt
during Batting Practice and Patch on Uniforms In-Game this weekend
Arlington, Texas–The Texas Rangers will celebrate the inaugural ‘PLAY BALL WEEKEND,’ a league-wide effort by MLB and all 30 Clubs to engage young baseball fans and celebrate the continued support of youth participation in baseball and softball. The initiative officially launches this Saturday, May 14, and the Rangers have several activities planned for the weekend.
On Saturday, May 14, the Rangers will host a free PLAY BALL event from 10:00 a.m. until 12 noon at The Lawn at Reunion, located on Reunion Blvd. in downtown Dallas. The event will allow youngsters all of ages to play baseball outside the normal scope of games and practice. Youngsters will receive instruction in hitting, pitching, baserunning, catching and other skills from the Rangers youth ballpark coaching staff. Rangers pitchers Tony Barnette and Sam Dyson and outfielder Ryan Rua will be in attendance from 11:00 a.m. until 12 noon, and there will also be appearances by Rangers Captain and the Rangers Six Shooters. All youngsters attending will receive a free plastic bat and ball set as well as a ticket voucher to a future Rangers’ home game. Advance registration for this free event is required at texasrangers.com/playball.
On Sunday, May 15, the Rangers will host a free PLAY BALL event from 10:00 a.m. until 12 noon at The Texas Rangers Youth Ballpark adjacent to Globe Life Park in Arlington. Youngsters will receive instruction in hitting, pitching, baserunning, catching and other skills from the Rangers youth ballpark coaching staff. Rangers alumni Mike Adams, Benji Gil, Larry Hardy, and Bump Wills will be in attendance, and there will also be appearances by the Rangers Six Shooters. All youngsters attending will receive a free plastic bat and ball set as well as a ticket voucher to a future Rangers’ home game. Advance registration for this free event is required at texasrangers.com/playball. PLAY BALL WEEKEND is an extension of the PLAY BALL initiative (PlayBall.org), which launched in 2015 as the sport’s largest effort to encourage widespread participation in both formal and casual baseball and softball activities. PLAY BALL WEEKEND also is a symbolic recognition of what MLB Clubs do year-round to support the growth of youth baseball and softball in their respective communities and beyond.
All 30 Clubs will feature a variety of customized and unique ballpark elements in support of PLAY BALL WEEKEND. The Rangers will have a cap exchange as part of their regular Raising Cane’s Kids Take the Field initiative on Sunday, May 15. In addition, one lucky youngster will participate in the exchange of lineup cards at home plate prior to Sunday’s game.
Major League players, coaches and managers all will wear specially made PLAY BALL t-shirts during batting practice and PLAY BALL patches on their uniforms during the weekend’s games.
PLAY BALL is a joint initiative between MLB and USA Baseball. In addition to encouraging participation in both formal and casual baseball activities, PLAY BALL aims to give kids the opportunity to enjoy the game in a fun environment by highlighting the many ways baseball can be played and providing memorable experiences; introduce young people to the sport who otherwise may not have the chance to experience it; and offer a healthy and active lifestyle options where many of those opportunities are being offered less frequently.
PlayBall.org is the PLAY BALL initiative’s online home and is accessible via MLB.com, USABaseball.com and other partner websites. PlayBall.org features youth-oriented content, including baseball trivia and quizzes, and video highlights from MLB games, social media content, photos and a “Play Ball Near You” interactive map that locates local community leagues. The site also features access to video podcasts and highlights from MLB Network’s new youth-focused show “Play Ball,” which airs on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. ET. PlayBall.org also links to USABaseball.com, which provides players, parents and coaches with the information and resources to help with proper play and instruction, including education videos featuring Hall of Famer and MLB Network analyst John Smoltz, among others. Health and safety information, including through the Pitch Smart and Play Sun Smart programs, also is available.
