Blake Rivera

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #29 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Rivera is a two-time Giants draftee. They took him in 2017 after his freshman season at Wallace State (Ala.) JC and again a year later in the fourth round. So far, he's proved to be worth the wait. Rivera skipped the short-season Northwest League in 2019, instead jumping from the Arizona League straight to low Class A. His only action in 2020 came during instructional league due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rivera showcases some of the best pure stuff in the Giants' system. He fronts his pitch mix with a mid-90s fastball that has reached 98 with heavy cut life. If he commands the pitch better, it could move from potentially plus to double-plus. Rivera pairs his fastball with a nasty slider with above-average potential. He also has a changeup, but it's a clear third pitch at this point. Rivera's stuff is explosive, but his velocity tends to drop off quickly and his control is firmly below-average. As such, evaluators overwhelmingly view him as a future reliever.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rivera is likely to start 2021 at high Class A. He has a chance to move quickly if the Giants put him in the bullpen.
• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #18 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The Giants drafted Rivera in the 32nd round in 2017 after his freshman season at Wallace State (Ala.) JC but Rivera chose to return to school. That move paid off in 2018 when the Giants drafted him again, this time in the fourth round. He signed for an $800,000 bonus and split his first pro season between the Rookie-level Arizona League and the short-season Northwest League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The Giants believe Rivera has some of the best pure stuff in the organization. Now, the challenge is getting it to its top level more frequently. He starts his arsenal with a heavy, cutting fastball that averages 94 mph and touched as high as 98 in 2019. With refinement, outside evaluators believe Rivera's fastball could play as high as a 70 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale. He couples the fastball with a 12-to-6 curveball that some scouts project as above-average. His third-pitch changeup could get there, too, but the pitch's quality varies wildly. Scouts have also noticed that Rivera doesn't always hold his topend velocity deep into starts.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rivera will move to high Class A San Jose in 2020, where he will work to remain in the rotation. If he has to move to the pen, his stuff has the potential to be dominant in the later innings.
• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #29 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: After his freshman season at Wallace State (Ala.) JC, Rivera was drafted by the Giants in the 32nd round in 2017. Instead of signing, he chose to return to Wallace State for his sophomore season, when he posted a 10-0, 1.75 record with 98 strikeouts in 67 innings. The Giants were so impressed they selected Rivera again, this time making him their fourth-round pick a year later. Rivera draws the unfair comparison to current major league closer Craig Kimbrel, who also returned to Wallace State for his sophomore season and went from a 33rd-rounder in 2007 to a third-round pick in 2008.
  
  Scouting Report: Rivera made eight starts in nine appearances in his pro debut, although there are split opinions over whether Rivera will be a starter or reliever in the future. Rivera has an above-average, 93-96 mph fastball and a power curveball that has the chance to be a plus, swing-and-miss pitch. His curveball remains inconsistent, however, and his control was below-average in his brief pro debut. Because of these flaws, it seems Rivera will eventually be best used in a high-leverage relief role, where his strikeout potential with two above-average or better pitches will excel.
  
  The Future: Rivera will begin 2019 in low Class A Augusta's starting rotation. Depending on his results, Rivera could eventually transition into a fast-rising, late-inning reliever.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #169 prospect in 2018 draft
  An Auburn signee, Rivera was a 32nd-round pick of the Giants last year, but he opted to return to Wallace State (Ala.) JC. Craig Kimbrel did the same thing in 2007, opting to return to Wallace State after being drafted in the 33rd round. Kimbrel moved up the to third round in the 2008 draft. A decade later, Rivera should also move up in the draft, although it likely won't be to the third round. Rivera has a pair of above-average pitches with a 93-96 mph fastball and a power curveball that is inconsistent but has late-count strikeout potential when he lands it. Rivera went 10-0, 1.75 with 98 strikeouts, 35 walks and 28 hits allowed in 65 innings. Rivera projects as a power reliever in pro ball.
• Ranked #272 prospect in 2017 draft
  Undrafted out of high school, Rivera should be the first junior college player selected out of Alabama this year. He's a well-built, athletic righty, standing at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds. Rivera battled control problems in high school and in the fall, but he made progress this spring and was able to throw his 91-95 mph fastball for more consistent strikes. Evaluators have varying opinions on his slider, with some grading it as a below-average pitch and others being slightly more optimistic. A move to the bullpen could be in his future if his control and offspeed stuff don't progress as he matures, but some scouts believe his strength and arm speed will allow him to pitch with a plus-plus fastball in a relief role.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Rivera is a two-time Giants draftee. They took him in 2017 after his freshman season at Wallace State (Ala.) JC and again a year later in the fourth round. So far, he's proved to be worth the wait. Rivera skipped the short-season Northwest League in 2019, instead jumping from the Arizona League straight to low Class A. His only action in 2020 came during instructional league due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rivera showcases some of the best pure stuff in the Giants' system. He fronts his pitch mix with a mid-90s fastball that has reached 98 with heavy cut life. If he commands the pitch better, it could move from potentially plus to double-plus. Rivera pairs his fastball with a nasty slider with above-average potential. He also has a changeup, but it's a clear third pitch at this point. Rivera's stuff is explosive, but his velocity tends to drop off quickly and his control is firmly below-average. As such, evaluators overwhelmingly view him as a future reliever.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rivera is likely to start 2021 at high Class A. He has a chance to move quickly if the Giants put him in the bullpen.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Rivera is a two-time Giants draftee. They took him in 2017 after his freshman season at Wallace State (Ala.) JC and again a year later in the fourth round. So far, he's proved to be worth the wait. Rivera skipped the short-season Northwest League in 2019, instead jumping from the Arizona League straight to low Class A. His only action in 2020 came during instructional league due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rivera showcases some of the best pure stuff in the Giants' system. He fronts his pitch mix with a mid-90s fastball that has reached 98 with heavy cut life. If he commands the pitch better, it could move from potentially plus to double-plus. Rivera pairs his fastball with a nasty slider with above-average potential. He also has a changeup, but it's a clear third pitch at this point. Rivera's stuff is explosive, but his velocity tends to drop off quickly and his control is firmly below-average. As such, evaluators overwhelmingly view him as a future reliever.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rivera is likely to start 2021 at high Class A. He has a chance to move quickly if the Giants put him in the bullpen.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Giants drafted Rivera in the 32nd round in 2017 after his freshman season at Wallace State (Ala.) JC but Rivera chose to return to school. That move paid off in 2018 when the Giants drafted him again, this time in the fourth round. He signed for an $800,000 bonus and split his first pro season between the Rookie-level Arizona League and the short-season Northwest League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The Giants believe Rivera has some of the best pure stuff in the organization. Now, the challenge is getting it to its top level more frequently. He starts his arsenal with a heavy, cutting fastball that averages 94 mph and touched as high as 98 in 2019. With refinement, outside evaluators believe Rivera’s fastball could play as high as a 70 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale. He couples the fastball with a 12-to-6 curveball that some scouts project as above-average. His third-pitch changeup could get there, too, but the pitch’s quality varies wildly. Scouts have also noticed that Rivera doesn’t always hold his topend velocity deep into starts.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rivera will move to high Class A San Jose in 2020, where he will work to remain in the rotation. If he has to move to the pen, his stuff has the potential to be dominant in the later innings.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Giants drafted Rivera in the 32nd round in 2017 after his freshman season at Wallace State (Ala.) JC but Rivera chose to return to school. That move paid off in 2018 when the Giants drafted him again, this time in the fourth round. He signed for an $800,000 bonus and split his first pro season between the Rookie-level Arizona League and the short-season Northwest League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The Giants believe Rivera has some of the best pure stuff in the organization. Now, the challenge is getting it to its top level more frequently. He starts his arsenal with a heavy, cutting fastball that averages 94 mph and touched as high as 98 in 2019. With refinement, outside evaluators believe Rivera's fastball could play as high as a 70 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale. He couples the fastball with a 12-to-6 curveball that some scouts project as above-average. His third-pitch changeup could get there, too, but the pitch's quality varies wildly. Scouts have also noticed that Rivera doesn't always hold his topend velocity deep into starts.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rivera will move to high Class A San Jose in 2020, where he will work to remain in the rotation. If he has to move to the pen, his stuff has the potential to be dominant in the later innings.