Armando Rivero

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #31 prospect in 2017
  Rivero is a 28-year-old Cuban who spent four seasons in the Cubs system, including 114 games at Triple-A Iowa. In that span, he pitched 155 innings in the Pacific Coast League, with 79 walks (4.58 per nine innings) and 204 strikeouts (11.8). He throws a 94-97 mph fastball at his best to go with a mid-80s slider and firm changeup, which have their moments but lack plus grades. He pitched well in the Venezuelan League, which prompted the Braves to pop him in the Rule 5 draft. They will give him a clear shot at big league bullpen innings in 2017. Atlanta has had mixed success with Cuban players, striking gold with Adonis Garcia but getting more trouble than he was worth from Hector Olivera.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #25 prospect in 2014
  The Cubs have nine players who have left Cuba in recent years in their farm system, five more than any other farm system. Most of them haven't provided must production, most notably lefthander Gerardo Concepcion, who signed a $6 million major league contract and hardly lasted a year on the 40-man roster before being outrighted. Rivero and Concepcion were teammates for Industriales in Cuba's Serie Nacional, and Rivero signed with the Cubs in March 2013 for $3.1 million but had a problem getting a visa to get to the U.S. to make his pro debut. By the time he reported to Arizona it was extended spring training, and he didn't get into a game that counted until June 22, getting in a little extra work in the Arizona Fall League. Rivero has an athletic pitcher's body and quick arm that produces one of the system's best fastballs, sitting 94-97 mph at times. He has focused on a hard slider as his go-to secondary pitch, varying the release point by design. It's not a great pitch and needs to be tightened but can be effective with his varied looks and power in the mid-80s. He also throws split-changeup and attacks hitters fearlessly with all three pitches. A healthy Rivero ought to be able to reach Chicago in 2014 as long as he throws strikes, likely settling into a set-up role. Some scouts think he has the moxie to close.