Rivera grew up in the Throgs Neck neighborhood of the Bronx.[1] He played in local little leagues in Throgs Neck and Parkchester,[1][6][7] and often played sports including baseball on concrete fields or in the street.[6][8] In 2001 at the age of 12, Rivera played in a Little League district championship, eliminated by Danny Almonte and the "Baby Bombers" who went on to the Little League World Series.[9] (The Baby Bombers had their wins wiped out retroactively due to the Almonte fraud.[10])
The Mets invited Rivera to spring training in 2016.[1] He began the 2016 season with Las Vegas.[16] He was named the PCL's Player of the Month for May, when he batted .373 with five home runs.[17] He ended the season as the PCL batting champion.[18]
After batting .349 with 11 home runs and 90 RBI for Las Vegas, and being named the PCL's Player of the Week for August 1 through 7,[3] the Mets promoted Rivers to the Major Leagues for the first time on August 10.[19] He made his debut that night, starting at third base, and collected his first Major League hit in his debut.[20] He had a two–run double against the San Diego Padres for the first two runs batted in of his Major League career. Rivera hit his first major league home run on September 13, a go-ahead solo shot in the tenth inning off of Mark Melancon of the Washington Nationals.[21] Rivera batted .333 in 33 games for the Mets. He became the Mets' everyday second baseman toward the end of the season, after injuries suffered by Neil Walker and Wilmer Flores,[22] and started the National League Wild Card game.[23]
In 2017, Rivera was named to his first ever Major League Opening Day roster.[24] He was sent down to Triple–A on June 11 to make room for Yoenis Céspedes, but recalled on June 13 after Asdrúbal Cabrera went on the disabled list.[25] The Mets placed Rivera on the 10-day disabled list on July 28, after a partial tear in his right ulnar collateral ligament.[26] He underwent Tommy John surgery towards the end of the 2017 campaign.[27] He hoped to return to the Mets around midseason, but an elbow sprain suffered while playing rehabilitation games in the minor leagues ended his season.[28] He recorded 22 plate appearances in the minor leagues during the 2018 season.[29]
Rivera continued to struggle with his rehabilitation during spring training in 2019.[30] On March 9, 2019, the Mets released Rivera.[31]
Long Island Ducks
Rivera was signed by the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League on July 6, 2019. In 23 games for the Ducks, he slashed .270/.316/.427 with four home runs and 16 RBI.
Washington Nationals
On August 4, 2019, Rivera's contract was purchased by the Washington Nationals organization. In 15 games for the Double–A Harrisburg Senators, he batted .237/.293/.316 with no home runs and four RBI. Rivera elected free agency following the season on November 4.[32]
Philadelphia Phillies
On December 15, 2019, Rivera signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.[33] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[34] Rivera was released by the Phillies organization on May 28, 2020.[35]
Rivera is known as a contact hitter with a compact line drive swing. Rivera has hit for high average throughout his career, batting over .300 at the minor league level.[1][6][12][41] He however does not hit for power or draw frequent walks, qualities which are highly valued in the sabermetric era.[6][42] Rivera credited playing wiffle ball as a youth with creating his swing.[6][8] Rivera has played second, third, and first base at the Major League level,[1][12][26] and has previously played shortstop in college and the minors.[1][12] He considers second base his natural position.[43]
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