2017 is Ricky Santiago's first season with the ThunderBolts and first as a professional. He signed as a free agent on February 21, 2017. He finished a four year career at Florida Atlantic University in 2015. There, he hit .280 over 209 total games with 20 home runs and 122 RBIs. He set carer-bests his senior year in batting average (.322), on-base percentage (.408) and slugging percentage (.512). He was also a captain for an FAU team that finished 42-19. After graduating, he became an assistant coach at Nova Southeastern University. Ricky attended Charles W. Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida.