Texas youth signs with NMSU softball

New NMSU freshman softball player got leg up from Texas Rangers

Destan Burks was among 13 high school students who signed on to play softball or baseball at the collegiate level on Monday, July 28.

Burks signed onto play for New Mexico State University.

The Texas-based youth said she has been playing softball since she was 9 years old. She joined the Texas Rangers Youth Academy, where she was able to improve her game.

NMSU softball team is a NCAA Division 1 team.

Burks said she joined the Texas Rangers Youth Academy when she was a freshman in high school and that it upped her game.

Tyler Strachan, assistant director of business communications for the Texas Rangers Baseball Club, told the Bulletin that Burk is a native of Red Oak, Texas, and is one of 145 youth baseball and softball players who have gone to play at the college level after taking advantage of the cost-free services provided by the Texas Rangers Youth Academy since it opened its doors in December of 2017.

“They gave me a safe space to play freely,” she said.

Strachan said the Texas Rangers Youth Academy provides free year-round baseball and softball instruction to athletes ages 7-18, summer ball through Major League Baseball’s Nike RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) League, dozens of on-field development opportunities, and education programming for its athletes on their journey to becoming Major League citizens. Essentially, our Academy aims to grant access to high-level baseball and softball instruction and competition to kids in underserved communities.

Burks said she also got to choose who she could play softball with and that was helpful. She called it a “carefree and friendly environment.”

Burks said she is excited to come to NMSU this fall.

“I’m looking forward to getting on campus and enjoying my new team and to live in a different place that isn’t Texas is really fun,” she said.