WBN’s inaugural NCAA International Player of the Week is the University of Central Florida third baseman Kendrey Maduro. Maduro, 20, is a junior born in Pos Chiquito, Aruba, and he is the first player to be born in Aruba and play in a power-five conference since UCF plays in the BIG 12. He is 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, and has played second base and shortstop.
Maduro is a right-handed hitter and has helped lead UCF to a 4-0 record to start the season. He has one home run, 2 RBI, six hits in 15 at-bats (.400 batting average), and an OPS of 1.104 in 15 at-bats. Maduro is a well-rounded player who has flashed good defense at third base without making an error this season. He also had a successful sacrifice bunt to score a runner in the first game of the season against Siena.
Kendrey Maduro, the first player born in Aruba to play in a power conference in Division I baseball, started on fire for Central Florida. 5 for 11 with a double and HR and incredible defense at third. pic.twitter.com/88lw620xse
— Jeff Duda (@INTLBaseball24) February 20, 2025
His best game was against Siena in an 11-0 win at home in John Euliano Park in Orlando on February 16. Maduro hit a home run and a double against Siena right-handed starting pitcher Noah Rodriguez. Rodriguez is a native of New Jersey and went to Don Bosco Prep High School.
This is Maduro’s first season with UCF. He transferred from Northwest Florida State College, which is a JUCO school, after two seasons. His numbers at Northwest Florida State College were 27 home runs, 92 RBI, and his slash line was .293/.393/.567 in 379 at-bats.
Maduro played high school baseball at TNXL Academy in Ocoee, Florida. He also played for the Federick Keys in the MLB Draft League in 2023. He excelled in this league with three home runs, 15 RBI, two stolen bases, and an OPS of 1.063 in 75 at-bats.
He played for the Netherlands in the 2022 WBSC U18 World Cup, which was hosted in Florida at Bradenton and Sarasota. Team Netherlands went 1-4, and Maduro hit safely in four out of five games.
