Mike Rivera Stats & Scouting Report

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During the 2001 season, Rivera took a major step forward in three significant areas. He improved his power to the point where he became one of the most feared hitters in the Eastern League. Defensively, he got much better at receiving and throwing. And he also was more consistent, both in terms of his performance and makeup, than he had been in the past. Rivera isn't the second coming of Ivan Rodriguez defensively, but he has progressed to the point where he's capable of being a bona fide everyday catcher in the major leagues. The biggest question in regard to his future probably involves his bat. He's a dead-pull hitter who benefited greatly from Erie's bandbox Uht Park, where 23 of his 33 homers came last year. He also tailed off his second time around the Eastern League, hitting just six longballs in his final 42 games. Comerica Park is probably the least forgiving place in the big leagues for a righthanded pull hitter.

Playing in his first full season in Double-A, Rivera led the EL with 33 home runs as managers named him the circuit's best power prospect. His 101 RBIs were second in the league only to teammate Eric Munson. Critics will claim Rivera benefited from playing his home games at cozy Jerry Uht Park and they may be right. He batted .306-23-59 in Erie and .273-10-42 elsewhere. But one scout said, "I've seen him hit at home and on the road, and he uses most of the park wherever he hits." Rivera's improving defense also attracted attention. He has above-average strength and threw out 31 percent of basestealers. Yet another scout wasn't totally sold on Rivera as a catcher. "He's come a long way as a defender but I think he's going to be a backup catcher in the big leagues," that scout said. "He has some power, so that's going to help him in the American League, where he can DH."