United South Baseball Alumni Returned to Campus
Former students Roel Ramirez and Marco Raya shared their professional experiences with young Laredo athletes.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Baseball
Professional baseball players Roel Ramirez and Marco Raya returned to United South High School on Oct. 9, 2026. The alumni visited their alma mater in Laredo to offer guidance to current student athletes regarding their professional careers.
Why it matters
Coach Dante Madrigal facilitated the visit to provide current athletes with perspective from graduates who successfully navigated the path to professional baseball.
Roel Ramirez logged a 1.76 ERA across 46 innings during his championship season with the Toros de Tijuana, while Marco Raya recorded 4 strikeouts in 6 innings pitched during his MLB call-up.
The players
Roel Ramirez
He is a professional pitcher who previously represented Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic and helped the Toros de Tijuana win a league championship.
Marco Raya
He is a professional baseball player who made his major-league debut with the Minnesota Twins in 2026.
Dante Madrigal
He serves as the coach at United South High School who organized the alumni visit for current athletes.
Minnesota Twins
This is a professional MLB organization that called Marco Raya up to their major-league roster from their Triple-A affiliate.
San Diego Padres
This is an MLB club that signed Roel Ramirez to a minor-league contract for the upcoming 2027 season.
The details
Roel Ramirez, a 2013 graduate who pitched for Team Mexico, recently signed a minor-league contract with the San Diego Padres for 2027. Marco Raya, who graduated in 2020, made his MLB debut for the Minnesota Twins in June 2026 before being sidelined by a shoulder injury.
Timeline
Roel Ramirez graduated from United South in 2013.
Marco Raya graduated from United South in 2020.
Marco Raya made his MLB debut on June 24, 2026.
The alumni visited United South High School on Oct. 9, 2026.
Roel Ramirez is scheduled to play for the San Diego Padres in 2027.
Season Trajectory
The return of these players underscores the United South High School baseball program's history, where Roman Martinez recently broke the all-time strikeout record once held by Roel Ramirez. This institutional success provides a benchmark for current students aiming to reach professional ranks.
For fantasy managers tracking prospects, Marco Raya remains a player to monitor pending his shoulder injury status for 2027. Meanwhile, Roel Ramirez shifts his professional focus to the San Diego Padres organization for the upcoming season.
The takeaway
Alumni visits serve as a vital link between professional leagues and high school development programs. These interactions offer current students clear examples of the commitment required to transition from local fields to professional rosters.
Further reading
For more updates on the local diamond scene, visit the Baseball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Laredo Morning Times.
