Local high school athletes received several prestigious awards from the Texas Rangers Youth Academy. Duncanville High School freshman Braylon Hubbard, Midlothian High School graduate Ana Gonzalez and Nimitz High School graduate Jovanka Frias all earned the honor.
Braylon competed in the WWBA Freshman World Championship. In July, Braylon was invited to participate in the Hank Aaron Invitational for 2027 and 2028 graduates. Hank Aaron is a week-long on-field development event hosted by MLB in Vero Beach, Florida and attended by former Major League Baseball coaches and players.
Based on his success and performance at the Hank Aaron Invitational, he was selected to the Breakthrough Series team to participate in the WWBA (World Wooden Bat Association) Freshman World Championship. It is amateur baseball’s premier scouting destination, attracting more than 700 MLB scouts and college coaches each year.
Braylon Hubbard, Duncanville High School student
“The academy was my foundation. They gave me the opportunity to compete, learn from top players and improve myself every day,” Braylon said. “Being part of this family and all these events has inspired me to dream big. I am grateful for the support.”
Braylon is a longtime Texas Rangers Youth Academy athlete and attends Duncanville High School (Class of 2028). He was a member of numerous special event teams, including the 2023 Junior Nike RBI Regional Team and the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup Championship Team. He was also a two-time selection to the Negro League Invitational Team and the 2022 12U National Junior Home Run Derby Champion.
Braylon’s selection to the WWBA Freshman World Championship is a testament to the Texas Rangers Youth Academy’s role in helping young athletes improve their skills and skills.
Demonstrate your talent on the national stage. Opportunities like this open the door to college scholarships and potential professional careers, especially depending on the level of exposure he receives in front of scouts.
Vernon College roommates share honor
The Academy also announced the selection of Jovanka Frias and Ana González as co-recipients of the 2024 Youth of the Year Award presented by Coca-Cola. The Youth of the Year award is presented annually to dedicated academy players across Major League Baseball who have demonstrated excellence on and off the field.
The college roommates each received a $5,000 scholarship toward tuition at Vernon (Texas) University and are expected to continue their respective softball careers as freshmen this fall. Frias will represent the Rangers Youth Academy at the pregame ceremony for Game 2 of the 2024 World Series in Los Angeles, along with Commissioner’s Cup Most Valuable Player Jalen Maclin and nine other youth award winners. .
Frias, an Irving Nimitz High School graduate, has been the academy’s main pitcher since the beginning of 2021. She is a four-time Nike RBI Regional Player, two-time Jenny Finch Classic Player, and two-time Kat Osterman Invitational Player. , two-time Breakthrough Series Invitee, and 2022 Elite Development Invitee. The right-hander led the Rangers Youth Academy to wins at the 2021 Jennie Finch Classic and the 2024 Cat Osterman Invitational.
Gonzalez, a former Jennie Finch Empowerment Award winner (2023) and Breakthrough Series MVP (2022), has been a member of the Rangers Youth Academy since 2019 while attending Midlothian High School. One of the most decorated athletes in Academy history, she was a four-time Jennie Finch Classic team member, three-time Nike RBI Regional team member, three-time Breakthrough Series invite, and two Elite Developmental Invitationals. I have been invited twice.
Texas Rangers Youth Academy
“Jovanka and Ana embody everything the Rangers Youth Academy strives to represent,” said Juan Leonel Garciga, Senior Director of Youth Academy & Baseball Development. “In addition to being talented and gifted athletes, these two young women have shown unparalleled passion and dedication to positively impacting the lives of those around them. , and I couldn’t be more excited to continue watching their success as people at the collegiate level.”
Learn more about what’s happening at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy below.
TexasRangers.com/Academy.
