Carlos Rivera

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #25 prospect in 2003
  Rivera made painfully slow progress through the Pirates system before bursting through in Double-A last year during his seventh pro season. In his second year in the Eastern League, he made the postseason all-star team as he finished second in home runs and 10th in batting. Rivera went through a rigorous conditioning program following the 2001 season, losing 25 pounds while adding upper-body strength. That enabled him to gain both power and bat speed, and he obliterated his previous career high of 13 homers. Rivera also is an outstanding fielder with great hands, good range for a big man and a knack for turning the 3-6-3 double play. He still has problems commanding the strike zone and needs to take an occasional walk. He's a slow runner who goes station to station and is a prime candidate to hit into a double play. The Pirates added Rivera to the 40-man roster at the end of last season and would like him to spend this year in Triple-A. However, he could land in the majors at some point in 2003 because the Pirates have a glaring need for power.