A Milestone for UTRGV Baseball
Armani Raygoza, a first baseman from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, is set to become the first player from the program in 34 years to compete in the Cape Cod Baseball League when he joins the Orleans Firebirds.
A Prestigious Summer Circuit
The Cape Cod Baseball League is widely regarded as the premier collegiate summer baseball circuit in the United States, having launched the careers of more than 1,750 players who have gone on to the Major Leagues since its inception in 1965.
Raygoza arrives with a decorated résumé: he is a two‑time Southland Conference Player of the Year, an all‑conference first‑team selection, and the program’s all‑time leader in home runs and RBIs.
His impact extended beyond the box score; he topped the Southland in six statistical categories, including walks, home runs and slugging percentage, underscoring his all‑around dominance.
Teammates on the Horizon
He will not be alone on the Cape Cod stage; fellow UTRGV alumni such as Ruben Gonzalez, Augie Grohman, Clavin Junek, Brooks Jones, Gael Salinas, Merek Yeager, Carlos Morales and Nathaniel Williams are also testing themselves in various collegiate summer leagues across the country.
The Firebirds open their season on Saturday, launching a schedule of 40 regular‑season games that will run through early August, giving Raygoza ample opportunity to showcase his talent against some of the nation’s top collegiate prospects.