Mr. Darrell Miller, Director

Academy Instructors–Former Major Leaguers

Mr. George Hinshaw, Education Coordinator Mr. James Bishop, Facilities Manager

Mr. Victor “Vic” Harris, Instructor

Mr. Lorenzo Gray, Instructor

Mr. Carl Nichols, Coordinator of Instruction

Mr. Kenny “KT” Landreaux, Hitting Instructor

Mr. Dave Frost, Instructor

Mr. Kelvin Delgado, Instructor

Mr. Doug Takaragawa, Academy Coordinator & Programs and Scout Teams Manager

Mr. James Roberts, Broadcasting Instructor/Academy Announcer/Baseball Instructor

Academy Instructors–The Minor Leaguers

Coach Andrew Toussaint Coach Johnny Washington Coach Marvin Lowrance

Coach Lyndon Poole

Coach Justin Roberson

Academy Instructors–Softball Coaches

Coach Elizabeth “Liz” Vazquez

Coach Kristen Aufdemberg

Academy Instructors–Junior Coaches

Coach Anthony Gose

Coach Rodrigo Veles

Coach Zach Wilson

The Academy Front Office–

(Missing)

Z. Aguilar

Mr. Richard Josefson

The MLB Urban Youth Academy

Mr. Eldridge Eatman, Property Manager & Caretaker

The Academy Trainer–

Mr. Tony Diaz

The Academy Umpire–

Mr. Edmond Aguirre

Missing: Mr. Leon Murray, Security Manager

I would like to thank the staff for allowing me to go around taking candid pictures of them. Its not easy to pose with a minute’s notice and I appreciate their cooperation.

As usual, if you have any questions, please contact me. Thank you everyone.

Z.

The Academy holds a charity golf event each year in November
featuring many current and former Major League Players. The 2006
event included Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, Indians outfielder Kenny
Lofton and former Major Leaguers Tommy Davis and Vince Coleman.

The event included a silent auction with dozens of donated items from the Dodgers, Angels and Padres. This year’s event, hosted by Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, will be held on November 9th, 2007, at Pacific Palms Conference Resort in the City of Industry.

Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, with the assistance of the Positive Coaching Alliance, has established a series of clinics, starting with one for 50 Southern California-area youth baseball and high school coaches at the Academy in June 2007.

Coaching is probably the most critical element we need to address as far as teaching fundamentals and getting kids educated on the best way to play the game.

GROUNDSKEEPING CLINICS

The Urban Youth Academy held the first-ever MLB Groundskeeping Field Day in September 2006 sponsored by Gail Materials. MLB Field Consultant Murray Cook and Los Angeles Angels Fields Maintenance Manager Barney Lopas held a clinic in front of 60 would-be groundskeepers, teaching them infield clay maintenance, mound/home plate care, turf grass management, The second clinic was held in spring 2007 featuring Padres Field Maintenance Manager Luke Yoder.

The Academy, in cooperation with MLB, the Professional Baseball Umpire Corp, the World Umpires Association, the Jim Evans’ Academy of Professional Umpiring and the Harry Wendelstedt School for Umpires, held the first-ever West Coast-based Professional Umpire Camp in November 2006.

Fifteen Major League and 6 Minor League umpires instructed 84 campers and 104 local residents in the two one-week sessions held in Long Beach and Compton.

 

 

 

 

The Academy Umpire Camps help support Major League Baseball’s efforts for increased diversity among the professional umpiring corps.

 

MLB offers professional umpire school scholarships to qualified minorities.

COLLEGE-BOUND

The Academy also sponsored a High School Concurrent Enrollment Summer Program. In the summer of 2007, 20 students took transfer- level computer and personal development classes at El Camino College Compton Center, Monday through Thursday, from 8:00am to12:30pm. The students then participated in nutrition, plyometrics, baseball and softball training at the Academy from 1:30pm-4:30pm.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, along with their owner, Arte Moreno, have provided an annual grant for the establishment of a summer five-week academic and athletic program for boys and girls ages 14-17.

50 boys and girls took classes at Santa Monica City College every morning in the summer of 2006, playing baseball and softball at the Academy in the afternoons. The students earned high school and college credits in many core classes while participating in the program.

 

COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION

Approximately 52% of kids in the surrounding neighborhood graduate high school. When the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy opened its doors in February 2006, the founders mandated that it create a diversified program for its students that not only concentrated on baseball and softball, but educational opportunities as well.

An integral part of the Academy structure is a state-of-the-art computer room that helps assist with off-the-field education. In addition, the Academy partners with the University of Phoenix to offer an online Associates degree as well as a tutoring/mentoring program.

FREE AGENTS

MATT HIRSCH

JEFF ICENOGLE

LYNDON POOLE