LOS ANGELES — Najer Victor got his start playing baseball in pick-up games with his friends in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Now, the St. Thomas native is taking the first steps towards playing in the pros.
The 22-year-old Victor, who just completed his senior season at the University of Central Florida, was picked in the 14th round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft by the Los Angeles Angels
Victor, a right-handed pitcher, was the 412th player taken overall during the MLB Draft and the 15th of 21 overall draft picks by the Angels.
He is also the first player from the U.S. Virgin Islands taken in the MLB Draft since St. Thomas native Alex McFarlane went in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2022 draft by the Philadelphia Phillies.
After spending most of his youth in the Virgin Islands, Victor moved to Philadelphia with his father, Auguste Victor, and his five brothers and sisters, and didn’t play baseball for more than 18 months.
A chance message from his cousin’s father, Dwayne Maduro — a St. Thomas native who runs the Full Circle Performance baseball program — led Najer Victor to move to Florida and resume playing baseball.
Back in the game, Victor began turning in some impressive games with his East Ridge High School team in Clermont, Fla., as well as with the Power Baseball travel team. He was named the Florida High School Athletic Association’s District 8 player of the year as a junior.
While the COVID-19 pandemic ended his senior year before it started, he wound up signing with Florida Gulf Coast University. In two seasons with the Knights — primarily as a reliever, with spot starting as well — he went 4-0 in 25 appearances (including nine starts) with a 4.58 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched, and one save.
Transferring to UCF in 2022, Victor remained a reliever and spot starter. Over two seasons, he went 3-4 in 43 appearances (including one start) with a 4.22 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings, and one save.
His senior year, the Knights finished 37-21 after making it to the final of the NCAA College World Series’ Tallahassee Regional, eventually losing to Florida State.
Victor was the only U.S. Virgin Islands-born player to be selected in the 2024 Draft.
Through 20 relief appearances in 2024, he recorded 11 scoreless outings. Prior to playing two seasons at UCF, he attended Florida Gulf Coast University for two years.
By BILL KISER/V.I. Daily News
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