ARLINGTON, Texas- Florida SouthWestern superstar Victor Figueroa will have a chance to make his boyhood dreams of becoming a professional baseball player come true after the Bucs slugger was selected in the 18^th round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft by the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. 

Figueroa was the Bucs first, 1st Team All-American hitter in program history this season. The Bucs slugger had a season for the ages, becoming the first FCSAA hitter to win the Triple Crown since 2017, hitting .421 with 17 home runs and 79 RBIs on the year.  He set new FSW single season records with his .421 average while also putting himself at the top of the Bucs single season hits (88) and RBIs (79) lists. Figueroa earned 1st Team All-American, FCSAA and Citrus Conference Player of the Year, FCSAA Athlete of the Year, as well as 1st Team All-FCSAA and Citrus Conference accolades as a sophomore for the Bucs.

With the Padres selection of Figueroa, FSW has now had a player selected in five consecutive drafts.  Three former FSW players also went in this year's Major League Baseball Draft as 2021 teammates Brian Holiday and Carter Cunningham went in the 3^rd and 10^th rounds respectively to the St. Louis Cardinals and the Toronto Blue Jays while 2022 Buc Frank Elissalt went in the 19^th round to the New York Mets. 

If he signs with the Padres, Figueroa would become the 23^rd former Buc in the Minor League Baseball ranks this season.