René Rivera

René Rivera
Minnesota Twins – No. 32
Catcher
Born: July 31, 1983 (1983-07-31) Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 22, 2004 for the Seattle Mariners
Career statistics (through September 28, 2011)
Batting average	.193
Home runs	4
Runs batted in	15
Teams
Seattle Mariners (2004–2006) Minnesota Twins (2011)

René Rivera (born July 31, 1983 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico) is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Minnesota Twins. He is currently assigned to the AAA Rochester Red Wings.

Career

Rivera was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the second round (49th overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his major league debut September 22, 2004. After playing 35 games for the Mariners in 2006, Rivera, in 2007, played for the Mariners Double-A affiliate, the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, batting near the Mendoza Line the entire season.

On November 22, 2007, Rivera signed a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers assigned him to Jacksonville to begin the 2008 season. While at Jacksonville, Rivera began playing some first base, along with catcher, and was promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas on June 3. He became a free agent after the season ended, and signed with the New York Mets in November 2008.

Rivera began the 2010 season with the independent Camden Riversharks. The Yankees signed him on May 20, 2010. During that season, he saw time with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and the AA Trenton Thunder.

On December 17, 2010, Rivera signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins. He had his contract purchased by the Twins on May 5, 2011.

Accomplishments

• 2004 California League Mid-Season All-Star team
• 2002 Northwest League Post-season All-Star team
• MVP of the 2001 Excellence Tournament held in Puerto Rico

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)