Astros open Urban Youth Baseball Academy in Turner Park

Drayton McLane


Members of the Houson Astros, both past and present, and elected officials gathered with the community April 10 in Northeast Houston to officially open the Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy. The Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy, located at Sylvester Turner Park, 2800 W. Little York, in north Houston, opened with a special Grand Opening ceremony at 11 a.m.

The Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy is the second MLB Urban Youth Academy created and is modeled after the original facility established in Compton, CA.

The Astros Urban Youth Academy, which will provide baseball and softball instruction for boys and girls, features a show field with seating for 500 fans and dugouts and lights; one auxiliary field; two youth baseball/softball fields; 1,500 square feet of office space and other facilities. The Astros and MLB contributed a combined $600,000 toward the construction of the Academy.

Current Astros players attending were: Michael Bourn, Wandy Rodriguez, Jeff Keppinger, Tommy Manzella, J.R. Towles, Sammy Gervacio and Chris Johnson. They were joined by Astros alumni Enos Cabell, Jimmy Wynn, Larry Dierker, Ron Brand, Bob Bruce, Danny Coombs, Claude Raymond and Mike White.

Representing the Astros front office were Chairman and CEO Drayton McLane, President of Business Operations Pam Gardner, President of Baseball Operation Tal Smith, General Manager Ed Wade and Manager Brad Mills.

Elected officials attending were Houston Mayor Annise Parker, State Representative Sylvester Turner, U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee State Senator John Whitmire, State Representative Armando Walle.

McLane said the park was part of the organizations commitment to the communty. “We have two missions: to be a champion, and to make a positive difference in the community,” he said.

The Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy at Sylvester Turner Park will staff local high school, collegiate, current and former professional ballplayers to help run the different Major League-caliber training camps and clinics throughout the year. It will offer the free programs to a minimum of 2500 youths. Additional instructors, collegiate coaches, scouts, and certified athletic trainers will also work with young athletes at the Academy. The Academy will open its doors to all who want to participate from the houston area with enrollment open year-round.