A Milestone for UTRGV Baseball
Armani Raygoza, a former standout at Americas High School and 2022 El Paso Times Most Valuable Player, has earned a spot on the roster of the Orleans Firebirds, one of the most celebrated clubs in the Cape Cod Baseball League. He will continue his collegiate career at UT‑Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas, before making the move to Massachusetts for the summer season.
Raygoza arrives after a record‑setting year in which he hit 17 home runs for the second straight season, tying for fourth in program history, and drove in 138 runs, the all‑time high for the program. His performance earned him two‑time Southland Conference Player of the Year honors and a place on the all‑conference first team.
The Cape Cod League’s Legacy
The Cape Cod Baseball League is widely regarded as the premier summer circuit for elite college talent, with more than 1,750 alumni eventually reaching the Major Leagues. Past Firebirds who have passed through include Hall of Famers Frank Thomas and Carlton Fisk, as well as recent All‑Stars such as Corbin Burnes, Marcus Stroman, Mark Teixeira, Todd Helton and Nomar Garciaparra.
Raygoza’s selection marks the fifth time a UTRGV student‑athlete has competed in the league and the first since 1992, underscoring the growing pipeline of talent from the Southland Conference program to national summer competition.
Beyond his power numbers, Raygoza also logged 19 multi‑hit games, including several three‑hit outings, and contributed to a team‑high 16 multi‑run games, highlighting his all‑around impact on the field.
Coaches and analysts alike expect the young infielder to add depth and experience to the Firebirds’ lineup, joining a storied franchise that has served as a launching pad for countless future MLB stars.