RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, in partnership with First Community Bank, announced on Monday that graduate student right-hand pitcher Max Balderrama Jr. is the First Community Bank Student-Athlete of the Week.
 
Balderrama is in his third year at UTRGV and has had success both on and off the mound. 
 
Balderrama, who is only 20 years old, graduated after two years with a Bachelor of Business Management. In December, he is adding a Master of Business Administration with a focus on international trade to his resume. 
 
Balderrama's academic success started in high school, where he partook in a dual-credit program. Despite being told he wouldn't be able to participate because he was in baseball, he completed the necessary courses, earned his associate's degree and went to college, becoming the first in his family to do so.
 
Despite an early end to the season, Balderrama played in six games (one start). In his first career-start against NJIT, Balderrama struck out a career-high 10 in a career high 7.0 innings for his first-career complete game and strikeout. Balderrama finished the season 1-0 with one save and a 2.40 ERA. He struck out 22 in 15 innings while scattering 11 hits and two walks.
 
A graduate of Crosby High School, Balderrama arrived at UTRGV in 2018. Over his first two seasons, he struck out 57 in 48 innings. As a sophomore, he ranked 109^thin the NCAA and seventh in the WAC in wins (7).
 
First Community Bank has branches all over the Rio Grande Valley including Harlingen, San Benito, Brownsville, McAllen, Los Fresnos South Padre Island and Raymondville. For more information, logon to FCBTX.com.

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