Alain Gomez‑Gudiño Overcomes Migration Hardship to Become Arizona Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year

Venezuelan‑born teenager Alain Gomez‑Gudiño spent his 16th birthday waiting on a train station in Mexico for a CBP One permit that would allow his family to enter the United States after a months‑long journey across eight countries. He began playing baseball again two weeks after receiving the permit, using a catcher’s mitt he brought from Venezuela that was soaked with river water from his travels.

Gomez‑Gudiño excelled at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, and was named the 2025‑26 Gatorade Arizona Baseball Player of the Year, celebrating the honor during his senior night ceremony.