Carlos Rivero (baseball)
Carlos Luis Rivero Milán (born May 20, 1988) is a Venezuelan professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox.
| Carlos Rivero | |
|---|---|
Rivero playing for the 2017 Tokyo Yakult Swallows | |
| Free agent | |
| Third baseman | |
| Born: May 20, 1988 Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: August 29, 2014, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| NPB: July 22, 2017, for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows | |
| MLB statistics (through 2014 season) | |
| Batting average | .571 |
| Home runs | 1 |
| Runs batted in | 3 |
| NPB statistics (through 2017 season) | |
| Batting average | .215 |
| Home runs | 6 |
| Runs batted in | 21 |
| Teams | |
Rivero was originally signed by the Cleveland Indians as an international free agent in 2005, and played for them for five minor league seasons (2006–2010) before joining the Philadelphia Phillies (2011) and Washington Nationals (2012–2013) organizations. He initially began as a strong-armed shortstop before being moved to third base, and has also spent time in left field. The Red Sox signed him in December 2013.[1][2]
In between, Rivero played winter baseball for the Leones del Caracas, Bravos de Margarita and Cardenales de Lara clubs of the LVBP.[3]
Career edit
Cleveland Indians edit
The Venezuelan infielder ranked among the 20-top Cleveland prospects from 2007 through 2009. He also was rated twice by Baseball America as having the best infield arm in the Indians organization in the 2008 and 2009 seasons, before being named the best defensive third baseman in the International League in 2012 while playing for Washington affiliate the Syracuse Chiefs.[4]
Rivero earned International League All-Star honors during the 2012 season when he played at Syracuse.[5] Previously, he was named the 2007 South Atlantic League Mid-Season All-Star while playing for the Lake County Captains, also a Cleveland affiliate.[1]
Boston Red Sox edit
Not long after signing him, the Red Sox assigned Rivero to Double A Portland Sea Dogs to start the 2014 season. He then gained a promotion to Triple A Pawtucket Red Sox during the midseason.[6] He struggled after being called up to Triple-A, batting just .179 through eight games in the month of May. But Rivero improved the rest of the way, hitting .319 to go along with a .375 on-base percentage in June. He finished the month with a solid week, recording at least a hit in all seven games to be named the International League Batter of the Week. He went 12-for-28 (.429) during the seven-game span, raising his season average to .286. In addition, Rivero drove in five runs and scored six times, while compiling three extra-base hits, as his efforts helped Pawtucket conclude a 5-2 stretch.[5] He often filled the designated hitter role when he was not playing on the field. Overall, he hit .262/.320/.379 with five homers and 36 RBI in 74 games for Pawtucket before joining the Boston Red Sox.[2]
Major Leagues edit
After nine seasons in professional baseball, Rivero became a major leaguer when the Red Sox purchased his contract from Pawtucket on August 25, 2014 after placing shortstop Xander Bogaerts on the seven-day concussion disabled list.[7] He made his major league debut on August 29, pinch hitting for Will Middlebrooks. He was walked in his only plate appearance.
Seattle Mariners edit
Rivero was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners on November 3, 2014 but on December 2, 2014 he was non-tendered and became a free agent. However, they soon re-signed him to a minor league contract.[8]
Second stint with Boston Red Sox edit
On August 9, 2015, Rivero was traded back to the Boston Red Sox for cash and assigned to Triple-A Pawtucket.[citation needed]
Arizona Diamondbacks edit
On November 18, 2015, Rivero signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was assigned to Triple-A. Rivero signed a new minor league contract with the Diamondbacks on January 24, 2017.[9] He was released on June 19, 2017.
Tokyo Yakult Swallows edit
On July 6, 2017, Rivero signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball.
Toros de Tijuana edit
On March 20, 2018, Rivero signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. He became a free agent following the season.
Bravos de León edit
Rivero signed with the Bravos de León for the 2019 season.
Algodoneros de Unión Laguna edit
On February 16, 2020, Rivero was traded to the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna. Rivero did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the LMB season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] In 2021, Rivero batted .278/.338/.456 with 11 home runs and 53 RBIs in 65 games. He became a free agent following the season.
Bravos de León (second stint) edit
On January 13, 2022, Rivero re-signed with the Bravos de León for the 2022 season.[11]
Rieleros de Aguascalientes edit
On July 14, 2022, he was traded to the Rieleros de Aguascalientes in exchange for P Hayato Takagi.[12]
On December 12, 2022, Rivero was traded to the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos in exchange for Wilfredo Tovar.[13] However, he did not appear in a game for the Tecolotes in 2023.
On January 16, 2024, Rivero was loaned to the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League.[14] He was released by Quintana Roo on March 11.[15]
Accident edit
On December 6, 2018, Rivero, Luis Valbuena, and José Castillo were in a car in Yaracuy driven by Rivero's chauffeur when the car struck a rock. The driver tried to avoid it, but crashed. Rivero and the driver survived, but Castillo and Valbuena were killed. Castillo, Rivero, and Valbuena were all members of Venezuelan winter team Cardenales de Lara, and had played a game the day of the accident.[16][17]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Carlos Rivero page". Soxprospects.com. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Baseball Reference Minor Leagues – Carlos Rivero Statistics". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2014-08-10.
- ^ "Baseball America – Carlos Rivero profile". Baseballamerica.com. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Carlos Rivero named International League Batter of the Week". Nesn.com. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^ "Carlos Rivero Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Milb.com. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^ "Red Sox place Xander Bogaerts on the seven-day concussion DL". Hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2014-12-16. Retrieved 2014-12-16.
- ^ Todd, Jeff (January 24, 2017). "Minor MLB Transactions: 1/24/17". Mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ "Mexican League Cancels 2020 Season".
- ^ @NacimosBravos (January 13, 2022). "⚫️Regresa Carlos Rivero a los Bravos de León, quien llegó a ser líder de carreras producidas para nuestros Bravos ⚾️" (Tweet). Retrieved 13 January 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "RIELEROS SE FORTALECE EN EL ÚLTIMO DÍA DE MOVIMIENTO". rielerosags.com (in Spanish). July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
- ^ "LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 12 de diciembre".
- ^ "LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 16 de enero de 2024". milb.com. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
- ^ "LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 11 de marzo de 2024". milb.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Rome, Chandler (December 7, 2018). "Former Astros players Luis Valbuena, Jose Castillo die in car accident". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ^ Ardaya, Fabian. "Per this report, Luis Valbuena and José Castillo's car collided with a rock that rolled onto the road. The car was being driven by the driver for former D-Backs player and winter ball teammate Carlos Rivero". Twitter. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
External links edit
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Carlos Rivero on Twitter