Grapevine to host MLB's youth outreach international 2014-15 World Series event

Starting Aug. 6, hundreds of young baseball players from the United States, Canada, South America and the Caribbean will descend upon the Oak Grove Ballfield Complex in Grapevine to compete in the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities World Series.

RBI is a youth outreach program initiated by Major League Baseball that works to provide young people living in diverse and underserved communities the chance to play baseball and softball, RBI Senior Director David James said. The organization serves over 200,000 youths ages 5–18 in more than 200 national leagues as well as in leagues in the Caribbean and Latin America, he said.

James said MLB chose the Texas Rangers and the city of Grapevine to host both the 2014 and 2015 RBI World Series, which culminates the program's baseball and softball seasons.

The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation provides local funding for the nonprofit and will provide support and volunteer staff for the games, said Karin Morris, vice president of community outreach.

"Texas is known for its hospitality," Morris said. "I think we have second-to-none facilities in Grapevine and Southlake, and that these kids are going to enjoy playing here."

Kevin Mitchell, director of the Grapevine Parks and Recreation Department, said he is excited for the event that will also serve as an economic driver to the city.

The majority of the baseball games will be hosted at the Oak Grove Ballfield Complex in Grapevine, with the senior and junior baseball championship games to be played at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The softball games will be held at Bob Jones Park in Southlake, and the championship will be hosted at Texas Women's University, James said.

The 16 baseball teams and eight softball teams will stay at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center for four nights, at which Mitchell said there will be shuttles to transport players to and from the fields. Other area hotels will be available to accommodate friends, family members and supporters, he said.

He said Grapevine will not only offer its baseball fields, but also dining, retail and entertainment options for travelers as well. The Oak Grove Ballfield Complex is no stranger to hosting traveling teams for other state and national tournaments, but Mitchell said this one will be different given the teams are coming from throughout the world.

"I would say this is the most high-profile World Series event we would've held to date, and really that's because of MLB's involvement," Mitchell said. "It will definitely be a big event."

James said MLB plans to bring in professional college scouts who will evaluate the older players for college and drafting opportunities on the day before competition starts. The senior baseball championship and softball championship will be recorded and rebroadcast on the MLB Network.

He also said MLB is working to secure former Texas Rangers players to come in and talk to the RBI athletes about how the professionals got to be where they are.

James said the goal for these experiences is to get young players interested in an education rather than just being an athlete.

"RBI is a vehicle to create major-league citizens," he said.

Dates and locations

The boys teams, divided into junior and senior divisions, arrive during the first full week in August. Once finished, girls softball teams arrive the following week.

Baseball

• Oak Grove Ballfield Complex
• Workout day: Aug. 7
• Games played Aug. 8–10
• Championship games to be played at Globe Life Park in Arlington

Softball

• Bob Jones Park
• Workout day: Aug. 13
• Games played Aug. 14–16
• Championship games to be played at Texas Women's University

For more information about the program visit web.mlbcommunity.org.