Victor Mederos Makes Big League Dream Come True
When Victor Mederos was just a child, his future was in doubt. Born in Cuba, Mederos’ family had ambitions to get off the island in search of a better life with greater opportunities for the children, including Victor. In 2008, Mederos and his family got visas to go to Costa
When Victor Mederos was just a child, his future was in doubt. Born in Cuba, Mederos’ family had ambitions to get off the island in search of a better life with greater opportunities for the children, including Victor.
In 2008, Mederos and his family got visas to go to Costa Rica. From there, they went to Mexico and worked their way north toward the U.S. border. When they reached the border near Fort Worth, Texas, they were questioned by border patrol agents. Eventually, Mederos was able to enter the United States under the wet foot, dry foot policy, allowing Cuban residents that reached the U.S. by land to stay in the country.
Eventually, the family settled in Miami, where Mederos would begin his baseball journey. It all wouldn’t have been possible if not for the one border patrol agent letting his family into the U.S.
“That is why I love this game so much. There are so many people with different stories and backgrounds. But we’re all playing for the same thing,” he said. “We can come from anywhere in the world. At the end of the day, we all have the same goal and the same mindset, which is so special about this game.”
Always an active child, Mederos found a new way to unleash as a kid. It wasn’t the way most baseball players find their love for the game.
“When I first got here when I was a kid, I got into karate because it was one of the closest things to home. I was always an outdoors and active kid, I always wanted to be doing something,” he recalled. “After a few months I watched one of my mom’s friend’s kids playing baseball and I started getting into it. My brother and parents played baseball in Cuba, so they had that connection. And then the first game I ever played I hit a home run, so I was hooked from there.”
Growing up in the Miami area, Mederos attended three different high schools, graduating from Westminster Christian in 2020. His college career began at Miami in 2021. Last year he transferred to Oklahoma State and wrapped up his college career there.
In the summer, the Los Angeles Angels came calling, selecting Mederos in the sixth round of the 2022 draft. He began his professional career with a handful of starts for High-A Tri-City in 2022. Ultimately, he was with the Trash Pandas development list for the stretch run and the 2022 playoffs, not able to pitch.
With a stint in Major League spring training behind him, Mederos opened 2023 in the Rocket City rotation. He displayed the stuff that made him one of the Angels’ top prospects, although the consistency wasn’t there early in the season. Through the ups and downs, Mederos’ mindset has been the same.
“Don’t take anything for granted. This game can change your life quickly, and it’s just a matter of being patient,” he said. “Stay positive, having an imagination in your mind that you will be better, you will continue to fight and continue to compete and continue to give your team a chance to win. Especially as a starting pitcher, you can have a good outing change with one pitch and it’s really all determined on what you have going through your head.”
On June 29, the game changed Mederos’ life. When getting ready for a start at Birmingham’s Regions Field against the Barons, Mederos was called in to chat with Manager Andy Schatzley. He thought the manger was going to go over a scouting report. Instead, Schatzley said he wouldn’t be starting that night, he’d be flying out west to join the Angels for his MLB debut. It was an incredible experience for the 22-year-old.
“I remember telling Andy to tell me he wasn’t lying, and he told me it wasn’t a joke. It was a crazy moment filled with emotions,” Mederos recalled. “I remember thinking of my family and thinking about everything we’ve gone through and to be able to get that news was special.”
“It’s a special moment for a special kid,” Andy Schatzley said at the time of Mederos’ promotion. “It’s just the start for him. It’s a milestone in any player’s career. But it’s certainly not the endpoint. His best baseball is still in front of him.”
He made his MLB debut at Angel Stadium on June 30 against Arizona, pitching two innings with two strikeouts. Three days later, he struggled against the Padres in San Diego and was returned to the Trash Pandas the next day. The brief MLB stint proved to be even more motivating for Mederos.
“It was one of those feelings where everything you’ve ever worked for happens. Then when you come back down, all you want to do is find a way back up,” he said. “At the end of the day, you need to be able to compete and challenge everybody around everyone get better.”
Mederos returned to the Angels on August 1, firing a scoreless inning at the best team in baseball, the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Again, he was returned to the Trash Pandas the next day and has rejoined the rotation.
Mederos will lean on everything he’s learned throughout the journey from Cuba to Miami and now In Rocket City as he looks to get back to the big leagues.
Here are the weirdest plays and stats from MiLB in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Podcast features first-base promotions for Caglianone, Eldridge
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Cubs' Rojas, Mets' Tong headline May's Minor League Players of the Month
Minor League Baseball announced the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for May in Major League Baseball’s player development system.
Minor League Baseball, Joe Torre Safe At Home partnership enters ninth year
For the ninth year, Minor League Baseball and Joe Torre Safe At Home have teamed up to raise awareness about violence and abuse and to inspire fans of all ages to join them in SAH’s critical work. This year, 63 MiLB teams will participate in an in-ballpark initiative from May
MiLB podcast discusses Anthony, Caglianone at Triple-A
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
These are the greatest Minor League promos happening in June
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
New playoff format coming to 2025 Dominican Summer League
Minor League Baseball announced the 2025 Dominican Summer League (DSL) season will begin June 2 with Opening Day festivities taking place at the Boston Red Sox Academy in Guerra. The 2025 campaign will also see the introduction of the DSL Cup, a new playoff format that will see 16 DSL
Debating best Minor League home caps on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
The Omaha Storm Chasers' 'Take Meow-t' cat night included a Litter Box Sundae
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Boston's Triple-A affiliate throws birthday bash for Roman Anthony
With all the hype that has surrounded Roman Anthony over the past two seasons, it’s easy to forget how young he really is. MLB's No. 1 prospect played 70 games at the highest level of the Minors before he could order a beer. But he can now. Roman Anthony turned
Friendly foes, 2024 first-rounders Moore and Caglianone trade first Triple-A homers
For years, Christian Moore and Jac Caglianone laced up their cleats against one another in the SEC. A rivalry that spanned Florida, Tennessee and other landmarks across the South moved to Salt Lake City this week as the Royals and Angels' top prospects got simultaneous Triple-A promotions. So it was
Phillies' Moore, Fausnaught join MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's