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Rubén Rivera

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rivera and the second or maternal family name is Moreno.
Rubén Rivera
Outfielder
Born: (1973-11-14) November 14, 1973 (age 51)
La Chorrera, Panama
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 3, 1995, for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
May 28, 2003, for the San Francisco Giants
MLB statistics
Batting average.216
Home runs64
Runs batted in203
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Panama
Baseball World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2003 Cuba National team

Rubén Rivera Moreno (born November 14, 1973) is a Panamanian former professional baseball player. He played Major League Baseball for five different teams, from 1995 to 2003. His cousin, Mariano Rivera, was the former long-time closer for the New York Yankees. With the Yankees, he won the 1996 World Series over the Atlanta Braves.

Career

New York Yankees (1990–1997)

Rivera was signed by the New York Yankees in 1990. He made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Yankees in 1992 and his major league debut with the Yankees on September 3, 1995. Rivera was highly touted as a prospect,[1] being ranked as high as second overall amongst prospects by Baseball America in 1995, third in 1996, and ninth in 1997.[2]

He played in 46 games for the 1996 New York Yankees. He was added to the postseason roster, and appeared in the 1996 American League Division Series.

San Diego Padres (1997–2000)

On April 22, 1997, he was traded with pitcher Rafael Medina and US $3 million to the San Diego Padres for infielder Homer Bush and minor leaguer Gordon Amerson and two players to be named later, who turned out to be the highly anticipated Japanese pitcher Hideki Irabu and minor leaguer Vernon Maxwell. It was supposed to be a deal to help both teams, but Irabu was a major disappointment for the Yankees, and Rivera turned out to be at least a minor disappointment for the Padres, as he was never able to get on base on a regular basis during his four seasons in the Padres organization, mostly with the parent team (including as a starter in 2000 and 2001), and his considerable power did not sufficiently compensate for that major failing. He was released shortly before the 2001 season.

Cincinnati Reds, Texas Rangers & San Francisco Giants (2001–2006)

The Cincinnati Reds signed Rivera for the 2001 season, but he did not perform any better for the Reds in a reserve role than he did the Padres. They waived him after the season, and the San Francisco Giants picked him up, but released him a month later without his having played a game for them.

Early in 2002, the Yankees signed him as a free agent, but released him during spring training after Rivera stole teammate Derek Jeter's glove and bat, and then sold them to a sports memorabilia dealer, reportedly for $2,500.[3] After this became known, his teammates allegedly voted him off the team, and the Yankees released him. When the incident became public, Rivera apologized but criticized the team after being removed.[4]

He signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers on March 31, 2002 and was assigned to the Tulsa Drillers.[5] He performed poorly for them in a reserve role and was released immediately following the season.

In 2003, Rivera re-joined the Giants as a free agent. He was involved in an infamous baserunning gaffe in a 13-inning 4–3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Pacific Bell Park on May 27. Representing the potential winning run as a pinch runner for Andrés Galarraga at first base with a 2–2 score and one out in the ninth, Rivera advanced to second base but reversed course two steps beyond it thinking that the ball hit by Marquis Grissom to deep right-center field was caught by right fielder David Dellucci. Realizing that Dellucci had muffed the ball for an error, he ran past second base, returned to retouch it, headed to third and attempted to score when second baseman Junior Spivey's relay throw bounced off third baseman Alex Cintrón's glove and towards shortstop Tony Womack, who threw out the sliding Rivera at home plate.[6] Rivera's actions were proclaimed by Giants broadcaster Jon Miller as "the worst baserunning in the history of the game."[7] He was released by the Giants on June 3 after batting .180 with two homers and four runs batted in (RBI) in 31 games.[8]

Rivera signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles one month later on July 3, 2003 and played with the Bowie Baysox.[9] The Chicago White Sox signed Rivera to play for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights for 2006, where despite hitting 16 home runs, he batted only .239.

Mexican League (2007–2019)

He played for the Piratas de Campeche from 2007–2012, switched to Delfines de Ciudad del Carmen in 2013. In 2014, he played center field for the Rieleros de Aguascalientes. In 2015, Rivera played for both the Diablos Rojos del México and the Olmecas de Tabasco. In 2016, he started the season with the Olmecas de Tabasco before he was traded to the Pericos de Puebla, who ended up winning the League Championship. In 2017, he was traded to the Acereros de Monclova. Rivera announced his retirement following the 2019 season with Monclova, winning a championship in his last season as an active player.[10]

World Baseball Classic (2006, 2009)

Rivera played in both the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic for Panama's national team. He is a combined 3 for 16 with 1 home run and 5 strikeouts in both tournaments.

Coaching career

Rivera served as hitting coach for the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League for the 2021 season.

References

  1. ^ Baseball Prospectus 1996 – New York Yankees
  2. ^ BaseballAmerica.com: Prospects: All-Time Top 100 Prospects
  3. ^ "To catch a thief: Rivera released, accused of stealing from Jeter's locker". Sports Illustrated. March 12, 2002. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  4. ^ "Rivera admits to stealing Jeter's glove". ESPN. Reuters. March 13, 2002. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  5. ^ "Rangers Sign Rivera to Minors Deal," The Associated Press (AP), Sunday, March 31, 2002. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  6. ^ Ortiz, Jorge L. "Giants lucky in 13th/Grissom comes through," San Francisco Chronicle, Wednesday, May 28, 2003. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  7. ^ Crowley, Kerry. "SF Giants lose in disastrous 10th inning, Gabe Kapler’s mistake raises immediate concerns," The Mercury News (San Jose, CA), Thursday, July 30, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  8. ^ Kubatko, Roch. "Well-traveled Rivera lands with Baysox," The Baltimore Sun, Sunday, August 17, 2003. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  9. ^ "Orioles Put Daal on Disabled List," The Associated Press (AP), Friday, July 4, 2003. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  10. ^ "Rubén Rivera se retira como pelotero". 19 May 2019.
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