FORT MYERS, Fla.- Florida SouthWestern State outfielder Daniel Maldonado will trade in his Purple and Aqua next season for the Red, White, and Blue of the University of the Cumberlands after signing with the Patriots recently.
A 2019 Draft Pick of the New York Mets, Maldonado has played in 18 games for the Bucs this season, hitting .257 and reaching base at a .438 clip. He has been solid on the bases for the Bucs, going 8 for 9 in stolen base attempts and scoring 14 runs this season.
Maldonado will join a Patriots team who once again is one of the best squads at the NAIA level. They are currently 43-6 overall and were ranked 3rd in the latest NAIA National Rankings.
Maldonado and the Bucs head to the postseason with a program record 42 wins and are 42-14 overall after winning their second straight Suncoast Conference Championship last week.
The Bucs begin their postseason run on Wednesday in Lakeland when they open the 2021 FCSAA State Tournament with a matchup against Indian River at 10 AM at Joker Marchant Stadium.
Maldonado is one of seven Bucs to have signed their National Letters of Intent to play at the next level this season, joining Antonio Knowles (Florida), Luis Tuero (Arizona), Carter Cunningham (East Carolina), Marc Davis (USF), Warnner Rincones (Louisiana-Lafayette), and Matt Whitney (McPherson).