The San Diego Padres’ prospect, Victor Figueroa, is motivated to play the game he loves at a high level. He is internally inspired, but also pushed by the memory of his late father, who played the game at a high level.  

Life can be absolutely brutal sometimes.

For San Diego Padres minor league player Victor Figueroa, his life started with sorrow.

Victor’s dad, Jonathan Figueroa, was a pitcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers system and a native of Venezuela. At the age of 26, Jonathan Figueroa passed away after complications from Lupus. Victor was six years old at the time, and his dad was his life. The elder Figueroa played from 2002 to 2007 in the Dodgers system. He was a left-handed pitcher and considered an excellent prospect after a spectacular pro debut in 2002. He went 7-3 that season with a 1.42 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 75 innings between the Rookie Pioneer League and the Low-A Sally League. At that time, he was the Dodgers’ N0.2 prospect.

“I have baseball in my blood and a legacy to strive for,” Figueroa said to EVT when first discussing his father. “I feel like I always have his support when I touch that field and hold that bat. The connection is always there,” Figueroa explained emotionally. His dad meant a great deal to the young player. He fell in love with the game because of his father.

Victor Figueroa still dreams about his dad. Those memories will never fade.

The memories of his dad guide him on his quest to the majors. “I do have glimpses and memories where I am in the batting cage with my father. I have dreams of me hitting with him. It is nice, because I feel like I still have that connection with him,” Figueroa explains. Most people would be drawn to tears reliving moments like this. Figueroa is emotional about his past, but he uses his hardships as a learning experience. It is what made him who he is today.

“It shows me that even though my dad is not here, I still prospered as a man. I know that I still have that support, and it’s pushing me. One day, when I become a father, I can do the same things my dad did for me,” Figueroa rationalizes. We talked about life and the fact that Victor Figueroa has a wonderful support system. When speaking about his family, he mentions his longtime girlfriend, whom he endearingly calls his rock. “I have a beautiful and loving girlfriend, Ella Moore. She is my rock and keeps me sane by reminding me to stay humble about myself. She is the love of my life. Hopefully, she will be my rock for my whole career and life,” Figueroa said with a smile.

Family will always be there for Figueroa, but his mom is very special to him.

“She is the strongest woman I have ever met in this life.”

Kathiana Figueroa (at the time, she is now Kathiana Rodriguez) went through an unbelievable time in losing her husband at such an early age. Victor Figueroa and his one-year-old sister were left without a father. His admiration for his mother is off the charts. “She is the strongest woman I have ever met in this life. Raising three children (Figueroa’s younger brother was born to his mom after Jonathan’s passing). To do that on her own and make sure we still had our own dreams that she could support. It means so much to me to have that much support from someone who lost so much,” Figueroa said emotionally. In speaking about his father, there were no tears, but his mother’s fight brought a pause to the conversation. “Knowing that she is prospering. There is no stronger woman.”

Figueroa’s sister, Victoria, is also an athlete. He explains that she loves the game of baseball, but is a volleyball player back home in Florida. He beams when talking about her and how meaningful she is to his quest. We both agree his father would be equally proud of his daughter and all she has accomplished. There is a lot of love in the Figueroa family. His mom and sister plan on visiting the prospect this weekend. Having his family near will be a blessing for this young man. It will energize him.

The big first baseman is spiritual when speaking further about his dad. When you lose someone so close to you, finding peace can be elusive. It can be challenging to comprehend God’s will and understand why things occur as they do. Figueroa undergoes considerable self-reflection as he navigates his way through the minor league system. “When it comes to baseball, nobody understands me more than my dad. When I am on that field, I have his endless support. He is always watching me up there. I am always internally grateful for all the opportunities that I can get,” Figueroa said.

The goal for Victor Figueroa is to have an enjoyable major league career. That is his focus. “My dad was a baseball player, and his dream was to make it to the show. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make it. I have the same goal as him and for our family, I want to finish the job,” Figueroa said emphatically. There is no doubt that this youngster is on his way to making a mark in the game. He possesses all the intangibles to complement his tremendous ability.

The left-handed swinger considers first base his best position, but his athleticism allows him to also play corner outfield. He reads the ball well off the bat and will likely only get better the more time he plays outfield. To Figueroa, he will do whatever it takes to be in the lineup. He is a team-first guy and just wants to play every day.

Figueroa explains that he is a left-handed hitter because of his parents. All the time he spent with them. “The reason I am a left-handed hitter is because both my mother and father are left-handed. So, the only way they could teach me how to swing the bat was left-handed,” Figueroa said with a smile. They did well in teaching this youngster as he swings a potent bat.

Victor Figueroa’s lineage is Venezuelan. He is proud of that fact. His parents came with the intent of a better life. Baseball gave that opportunity to Jonathan Figueroa. Despite his early departure from this world, he left a lasting legacy for his family, providing them with a better place to grow and achieve their dreams. The family is forever grateful to Jonathan Figueroa. “It is a lot of hard work. My family came from Maracaibo, Venezuela, where you got to show if you want to play. My dad was one of the grittiest people you’d meet in your life. He worked his way through the system. That grit and grind he has for the game was awesome. My mom would tell me stories on how he would practice all by himself without being told,” Figueroa said proudly.

It is this work ethic that his father truly instilled in him that drives Victor Figueroa to strive for excellence. The 21-year-old has the support of so many people. He points towards Jumbo Diaz (born Jose Rafeal Diaz) as someone who keeps tabs on the Figueroa family. “He is very close,” Figuero explains. Diaz pitched in 173 games throughout his four-year career in the majors (mainly with the Reds). Jonathan Figueroa and Diaz emerged as prospects in the Dodgers’ system and formed a lasting bond. Baseball is family, and when something like this happens, players rally around one another.

The brotherhood of the game is something that helps Figueroa, but he is truly self-motivated. You love to see that in a young player. When discussing his performance in a game, it is always about the team first. Personal accolades mean nothing. “The only person you can bet on is yourself. And the person who can hold you accountable is yourself,” Figueroa explains. He expects a lot from himself and plays the game with meaningful intentions. Victor Figueroa is a ballplayer in every sense of the word.

‘You only get the amount of success that you put into it.’

His strength will improve as Figueroa gets older and climbs the affiliate ladder. His father worked hard late in his career to continually be given an opportunity to play the game he loved. “He would go make sure his body was prepared for the next season. I took that work ethic to heart. It reminds me that you have all the resources in the world, but it doesn’t mean anything unless you use them,” Figueroa said. More words of wisdom from this young player.

Figueroa felt the fire burn within him as he was drafted this past July. The left-handed hitter is proud of the grind he went on. He prepared physically and mentally for his first year of professional baseball, and it shows. “You only get the amount of success you put into it. Many people will notice that, from the time I was drafted until now, I have become a completely different person. This past off-season was a grind for me,” Figueroa said. He put in the work and is enjoying the results. The Padres are, too.

The first baseman/outfielder feels like the numbers he put up last year in junior college are just a sample size of what he is capable of producing. Figueroa put up a .421 batting average, 17 home runs, and 79 RBIs. He was the Player of the Year in both the FCSAA and Citrus Conferences, winning the Triple Crown in the league.

In closing, we discussed the fact that his father must be proud of him and his achievements. If it all ended today and his career was over, Jonathan Figueroa would be beaming about his son and how he plays the game. Any father would. You cannot help but be romantic about the situation and wonder about what life would be like if his dad were still around. We spoke about it briefly. “I know my dad would have done so much for me,” Figueroa said proudly. His trajectory may have been different if his dad were alive, but he refuses to dwell on the past. “I do believe that my dad is proud of me. Even though he didn’t get a chance to raise me, I feel like he still carried me throughout my life, and that made me the man I am today.”

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.