Reynaldo Rivera
| AB | 1202 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .215 |
| OBP | .287 |
| SLG | .379 |
| HR | 39 |
- Full name Reynaldo Rivera
- Born 06/14/1997 in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
- Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 250 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Chipola Junior College
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Drafted in the 2nd round (57th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2017 (signed for $850,000).
View Draft Report
A 24th round pick of the Cubs in 2016, Rivera chose to return to Chipola for his sophomore season. That decision paid off, and he's likely to be selected higher in 2017. After batting .397/.479/.647 as a freshman, Rivera batted .439/.541/.835 as a sophomore. Scouts are enthusiastic about his offensive profile. Rivera has plus raw power and feel for hitting. Scouts expect him to become more of a power threat at the next level as he sacrifices some of his contact ability to tap into more of his raw power. He's played mostly first base as an amateur, but he has a plus arm and runs well enough to potentially handle a corner outfield spot. His arm was good enough that he was also considered a draft prospect as a pitcher out of high school. Rivera got particularly hot in the second half of the season, batting .561 and swatting 11 home runs in his last 30 games before the NJCAA World Series. He could be selected in the top five rounds.
Top Rankings
Draft Prospects
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A 24th round pick of the Cubs in 2016, Rivera chose to return to Chipola for his sophomore season. That decision paid off, and he's likely to be selected higher in 2017. After batting .397/.479/.647 as a freshman, Rivera batted .439/.541/.835 as a sophomore. Scouts are enthusiastic about his offensive profile. Rivera has plus raw power and feel for hitting. Scouts expect him to become more of a power threat at the next level as he sacrifices some of his contact ability to tap into more of his raw power. He's played mostly first base as an amateur, but he has a plus arm and runs well enough to potentially handle a corner outfield spot. His arm was good enough that he was also considered a draft prospect as a pitcher out of high school. Rivera got particularly hot in the second half of the season, batting .561 and swatting 11 home runs in his last 30 games before the NJCAA World Series. He could be selected in the top five rounds. -
Rivera is a massive (6-foot-6, 250 pounds) first base/outfield prospect with the plus power potential you would expect from someone that size. But he moves better than you would expect for someone that big, as he's a tick-below-average runner underway. Rivera's plus arm fits better in the outfield than at first base. Originally from Puerto Rico, he's a freshman who has signed with South Alabama. -
Rivera is Puerto Rico's best two-way prospect, showing above-average raw power at the plate and an intriguing fastball-curveball combination on the mound. Listed at 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, Rivera has the strength and loft in his lefthanded swing to drive the ball out of the park. He's still refining his swing and will need to improve his pitch recognition against better pitching. On the mound, Rivera can get his fastball up to 89 mph with some depth on his curveball. He'll likely be a two-way player if he makes it to Chipola (Fla.) JC, where he is committed, but he's more likely to be drafted as a hitter than a pitcher and profiles as a right fielder.
