The Rangers biggest investment this offseason won't be in a starting pitcher or a center fielder. And the contract terms will be tough to beat: It's hard to put a figure on a lifetime.
Welcome to the sprawling new Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, in West Dallas for which the Rangers ownership and the team's charitable foundation led a $14 million fundraising drive to give a little baseball - and hopefully a lot of life guidance - to an underserved community.
On Tuesday, the Rangers, Mercy Street and sponsorship partners (including presenting sponsor Toyota) will cut the ribbons on a place that will rival a state-of-the art spring training complex: Five outdoor fields to serve kids from the ages of 6 through 18, including the new home parks for Pinkston and Sunset High Schools; a full-size indoor infield which can also host offseason workouts for major leaguers; a weight room; and, perhaps most importantly, four classrooms that can host up to 120 people.