Mike Rivera | |
---|---|
Catcher | |
Born: Río Piedras, Puerto Rico | September 8, 1976|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 18, 2001, for the Detroit Tigers | |
Last MLB appearance | |
May 20, 2011, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .239 |
Home runs | 13 |
Runs batted in | 69 |
Teams | |
Michael Rene Rivera (born September 8,1976) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball catcher. He played for the Detroit Tigers,San Diego Padres,Milwaukee Brewers,and Florida Marlins during a nine-season Major League Baseball (MLB) career. [1]
Rivera attended Troy State University (where he was a Mid-Continent Conference Eastern Division All-Star) and was signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent in 1997. He began play that season with the Rookie League Gulf Coast League Tigers,batting .286 in 47 games. [2] He played for the Class A West Michigan Whitecaps in 1998. In 1999,he played the majority of the season with the Class A-Advanced Lakeland Tigers,but also played a few games for the Double-A Jacksonville Suns. He returned to both Lakeland and Jacksonville in 2000 in addition to playing with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. Rivera played the entire 2001 season with the Double-A Erie SeaWolves before being called up to the majors in September. He was a Gulf Coast League All-Star in 1997,a Florida State League All-Star in 1999,and an Eastern League All-Star in 2001.
He made his major league debut on September 18,2001,for the Tigers against the Minnesota Twins as a late inning defensive replacement. His first start was on September 22 against the Boston Red Sox,he was hitless in four at-bats. He recorded his first major league hit on September 27 against the Kansas City Royals,a single to left field off Mike MacDougal. He appeared in a total of four games for the Tigers that season and another 39 in 2002. He hit his first career home run on April 4 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He spent half of the 2002 season with Triple-A Toledo.
On November 15,2002,he was traded by the Tigers to the San Diego Padres for Gene Kingsale. During the 2003 season,Rivera appeared in 19 games for the Padres and hit .170. [1] He also played in 13 games for their Triple-A Portland Beavers,batting .160. [2]
Rivera was placed on waivers by the Padres and selected by the Chicago White Sox on June 9,2003. [1] They assigned him to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights. Rivera began the 2004 season with Charlotte and batted .100 in 11 games. [2] On April 22,he was selected off waivers again,this time by the Oakland Athletics. [1] He played for the A's Triple-A team,the Sacramento River Cats in 2004,batting .224 in 49 appearances. [2]
He began the 2005 season with the Atlantic City Surf of the Independent Atlantic League but shortly signed with the Milwaukee Brewers as a free agent. He played the rest of the season with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. His 2006 playing time was split between Nashville and Milwaukee. He served as the Brewers' backup to Damian Miller,then as a starter at the end of the season. With Miller returning in 2007,and the acquisition of Johnny Estrada from the Arizona Diamondbacks,Rivera began the season with Nashville,but also played in 11 games for Milwaukee. On June 25,2007,he caught a perfect game with Sounds batterymate Manny Parra. [3]
In 2008,he was again promoted to the majors as a backup for Jason Kendall,and also played first base occasionally. On August 13,2009,Rivera had his first career multi-home run game against the San Diego Padres. He played three games for Nashville that season and the rest of the year with Milwaukee.
On December 22,2009,Rivera signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. On April 3,2010,before the season began,he was released when the Yankees signed Chad Moeller to be their backup catcher for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.
On April 20,2010,Rivera signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was assigned to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts. On August 4,he was promoted to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. He was released on August 28. He hit .257 in 58 games with Chattanooga and .125 in 14 games for Albuquerque.
On September 2,2010 he signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins [1] and was assigned to the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs,where he hit .111 in three games. [2] He appeared in seven games with the Marlins late in the season and was hitless in 14 at-bats. [4]
On October 17,2010,Rivera signed a minor-league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers for the 2011 season. He was called up to the major leagues on May 17,2011 when Sean Green was designated for assignment. [5] He elected to become a free agent following the season,but was re-signed by Milwaukee to a minor-league deal shortly after. The Brewers released Rivera on March 30,2012.
Rivera signed with the Long Island Ducks for 2012,but before the season started,on April 20,2012,he signed a minor-league deal with the Boston Red Sox. He played for the Pawtucket Red Sox,Triple A team for the Red Sox.
He has three sons.
Ruppert Sanderson Jones is an American former Major League Baseball center fielder. He was the first player selected in the 1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft by the Seattle Mariners.
Jody Eric Reed is an American former professional baseball second baseman and the third base coach for the Miami Marlins. He played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1987 and 1997 for the Boston Red Sox,Los Angeles Dodgers,Milwaukee Brewers,San Diego Padres,and Detroit Tigers.
Jeremy Ryan Hermida is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins,Boston Red Sox,Oakland Athletics,Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres,and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
James Michael Hegan was an American professional baseball player,who later worked as a sports commentator. In Major League Baseball (MLB) he was a first baseman and outfielder,and played for three different American League (AL) franchises between 1964 and 1977. He was the son of longtime Cleveland Indians catcher Jim Hegan.
Ronald Irvin Tingley is an American former professional baseball catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 10th round of the 1977 Major League Baseball draft.
Joshua Aaron Wilson is an American former professional baseball infielder. Wilson is a Mt. Lebanon,Pennsylvania native. He was part of the 1998 Pennsylvania state championship baseball team and Pennsylvania Player of the Year. Wilson played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins,Washington Nationals,Tampa Bay Devil Rays,Arizona Diamondbacks,San Diego Padres,Seattle Mariners,Milwaukee Brewers,Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers.
Edgardo Ralph Romero Rivera is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball infielder and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Milwaukee Brewers,Boston Red Sox,Atlanta Braves,and Detroit Tigers. Listed at 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) and 160 pounds (73 kg),he batted and threw right-handed. He was later a coach for the Houston Astros,and a manager for several Minor League Baseball teams. His son,Eddie,is an executive with the Red Sox.
Vincent Antonio Rottino is an American former professional baseball utility player. He has played positions including catcher,first base,third base,and the outfield.
Joseph Stephen Koshansky is a former Major League Baseball first baseman.
Erick R. Almonte is a Dominican former professional baseball shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers,and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He is currently the hitting coach for the Florida Complex League Cardinals.
Casey Michael McGehee is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in NPB for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and Yomiuri Giants,and also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs,Milwaukee Brewers,Pittsburgh Pirates,New York Yankees,Miami Marlins,San Francisco Giants,and Detroit Tigers.
Carlos Fernando Corporán is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers,Houston Astros,and Texas Rangers.
Cole Braden Gillespie is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks,San Francisco Giants,Chicago Cubs,Seattle Mariners,Toronto Blue Jays,and Miami Marlins.
Nicholas Murphy Noonan is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres.
Quintin Lonell Berry is an American former professional baseball outfielder who is the first base coach for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers,Boston Red Sox,Baltimore Orioles,Chicago Cubs,and Milwaukee Brewers.
Greg Lomack Allen is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians,San Diego Padres,New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Luis Fernando Urías Figueroa is a Mexican professional baseball infielder for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres and has also played for the Milwaukee Brewers and Boston Red Sox.
Garrett Nicholas Cooper is an American professional baseball first baseman and right fielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees,Miami Marlins,and San Diego Padres.
Jonathan Rayshad Davis is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Miami Marlins organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays,New York Yankees,Milwaukee Brewers,and the Marlins.
Nicholas Randolph Ramirez is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres.