Jose Alberto Rivera Stats & Scouting Report

IP	172
ERA	3.924
WHIP	1.238
BB/9	4.343
SO/9	10.57

Full name Jose Alberto Rivera
Born 02/14/1997 in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 193 / Bats: R / Throws: R

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

TRACK RECORD: The Astros signed Rivera for $10,000 in 2016 and he didn't make his full-season debut until he was 22 in 2019. By then, his fastball exploded to over 100 mph. When the Astros didn't protect Rivera on their 40-man roster after the 2020 season, the Angels selected him in the Rule 5 draft.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rivera has electric arm speed and produces a fastball that ranges from 97-102 mph with lively tailing action. He throws a split-changeup in the mid 80s that has progressed to flash aboveaverage and has a hard slider in the mid-80s as well, but it's inconsistent and he struggles to locate it. Rivero has an aggressive, high-energy delivery he will need to corral in order to improve his fringe-average control.

THE FUTURE: The Astros developed Rivera as starter, but his stuff, delivery and control all point to a future as a power reliever. He'll get the chance to fill that role for the Angels in 2021.
TRACK RECORD: The Astros love to sign older (18/19-year-old) international amateurs with a chance to add velocity. Much like Jorge Guzman, Rivera was an old signee who quickly found a way to reach triple-digits with his fastball.

SCOUTING REPORT: In a system filled with fast arms, Rivera has the quickest. There's very little subtlety to Rivera—he just rears back and asks hitters to try to catch up to a 97-102 mph fastball that has plenty of arm-side run. Rivera throws a mid-80s split-change that got better and better, flashing plus as the season wore on. He also throws a mid-80s slider that is often a 58 footer. His secondaries need to improve, but the trends are in the right direction.

THE FUTURE: For a flamethrower, Rivera has a chance to throw strikes. His delivery is high-energy but he's around the zone. For now, there's every reason to keep letting him be a tandem starter, but long-term, he's likely a power reliever.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Fastball in the Houston Astros in 2020

Scouting Reports

TRACK RECORD: The Astros signed Rivera for $10,000 in 2016 and he didn't make his full-season debut until he was 22 in 2019. By then, his fastball exploded to over 100 mph. When the Astros didn't protect Rivera on their 40-man roster after the 2020 season, the Angels selected him in the Rule 5 draft.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rivera has electric arm speed and produces a fastball that ranges from 97-102 mph with lively tailing action. He throws a split-changeup in the mid 80s that has progressed to flash aboveaverage and has a hard slider in the mid-80s as well, but it's inconsistent and he struggles to locate it. Rivero has an aggressive, high-energy delivery he will need to corral in order to improve his fringe-average control.

THE FUTURE: The Astros developed Rivera as starter, but his stuff, delivery and control all point to a future as a power reliever. He'll get the chance to fill that role for the Angels in 2021.
TRACK RECORD: The Astros signed Rivera for $10,000 in 2016 and he didn't make his full-season debut until he was 22 in 2019. By then, his fastball exploded to over 100 mph. When the Astros didn't protect Rivera on their 40-man roster after the 2020 season, the Angels selected him in the Rule 5 draft.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rivera has electric arm speed and produces a fastball that ranges from 97-102 mph with lively tailing action. He throws a split-changeup in the mid 80s that has progressed to flash aboveaverage and has a hard slider in the mid-80s as well, but it's inconsistent and he struggles to locate it. Rivero has an aggressive, high-energy delivery he will need to corral in order to improve his fringe-average control.

THE FUTURE: The Astros developed Rivera as starter, but his stuff, delivery and control all point to a future as a power reliever. He'll get the chance to fill that role for the Angels in 2021.
TRACK RECORD: The Astros love to sign older (18/19-year-old) international amateurs with a chance to add velocity. Much like Jorge Guzman, Rivera was an old signee who quickly found a way to reach triple-digits with his fastball.

SCOUTING REPORT: In a system filled with fast arms, Rivera has the quickest. There’s very little subtlety to Rivera—he just rears back and asks hitters to try to catch up to a 97-102 mph fastball that has plenty of arm-side run. Rivera throws a mid-80s split-change that got better and better, flashing plus as the season wore on. He also throws a mid-80s slider that is often a 58 footer. His secondaries need to improve, but the trends are in the right direction.

THE FUTURE: For a flamethrower, Rivera has a chance to throw strikes. His delivery is high-energy but he’s around the zone. For now, there’s every reason to keep letting him be a tandem starter, but long-term, he’s likely a power reliever.
TRACK RECORD: The Astros love to sign older (18/19-year-old) international amateurs with a chance to add velocity. Much like Jorge Guzman, Rivera was an old signee who quickly found a way to reach triple-digits with his fastball.

SCOUTING REPORT: In a system filled with fast arms, Rivera has the quickest. There's very little subtlety to Rivera—he just rears back and asks hitters to try to catch up to a 97-102 mph fastball that has plenty of arm-side run. Rivera throws a mid-80s split-change that got better and better, flashing plus as the season wore on. He also throws a mid-80s slider that is often a 58 footer. His secondaries need to improve, but the trends are in the right direction.

THE FUTURE: For a flamethrower, Rivera has a chance to throw strikes. His delivery is high-energy but he's around the zone. For now, there's every reason to keep letting him be a tandem starter, but long-term, he's likely a power reliever.