Brewers By the (Jersey ) Numbers ’17 — #29 Yadiel Rivera
It’s 29 days until Opening Day.
After a couple of days off due to an NRI, a coach and the manager, “Brewers By the (Jersey) Numbers” is back with a look at my son’s favorite player…
Yadiel Rivera.
Touted for his ability to play all over the infield, Yadiel Rivera is the type of player managers love having at their disposal. Counsell can use any player off his bench (short of the backup catcher) when Rivera is available as he provides coverage for any potential defensive injury.
Rivera is a slick and fluid fielder with the range and arm for shortstop, quick reaction and instincts for third, and the ability to throw across his body that’s sometimes required at second. He turns a mean double-play and leads the infield defense effectively and efficiently.
So why has this kind of player spent the majority of his time in the minor leagues to this point? Well, first he’s just 24 years old (turns 25 on May 2nd) so he’s still maturing and improving. The bigger reason though is that the hole in Rivera’s game is his bat.
Rivera has never hit a ton. His defensive skill and versatility is what has promoted him through the Brewers system since being a 9th round draft pick in 2010. He’s a valuable player still, but the decision has been made the last couple of seasons (since he’s been on the 40-man roster) that playing every day in the minor leagues is better for him than coming off the bench in the big leagues. With one minor league option year remaining and a deep competition again in camp this year, including with a couple of players who are out of options, Rivera may once again find himself playing the bulk of his games for Colorado Springs.
This all comes after Rivera made the team out of camp last year. He hit very well last year in the Cactus League and was dubbed “Mr. 9th Inning” for his propensity for game-altering hits in that frame last year. It’s too early this year to glean anything but he does have a home run in six official Cactus League at-bats. He also worked a 14-pitch walk, again in the 9th inning, in one game showing that he’s already in the competitive mindset.
Whether Rivera earns a spot on the 25-man roster this year on April 3rd remain to be seen, but since he does have one minor-league option left my prediction is that he’ll end up beginning the season in Triple-A and contributing throughout the season at the big league level.
The best part about a player like Rivera is that you know what you’re going to get when you put him in the game. He’s going to be defensively sound and at times spectacular. Anything you get at the plate then becomes a bonus.
Rivera is also coming off an experience in the Winter League that he won’t ever forget, leading his country’s representative to its first Caribbean Series win since 2000, with his particular team’s first win with 1987…which was still five years away from Rivera being born.
He told me that it was his personal World Series moment when he scored the winning run against Mexico in the 10th inning. He also recorded the assist on the game’s final out.
2017 may be a year where Rivera earns from frequent flier miles between Wisconsin and Colorado, but he has a chance to be a factor to the Brewers’ bottom line along the way.
Next year, when Rivera is out of options, is when the decision can get tougher. I would expect him to have a home in Milwaukee for a number of years to come though.
And that will make my boy quite happy.
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Follow Yadiel on Twitter: @YADIELRIVERA13
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Looking to catch up on this season’s BBtJN? Just click on a name below:
#59 Carlos Torres
#57 Chase Anderson
#56 Ryan Webb
#54 Michael Blazek
#53 Jhan Mariñez
#52 Jimmy Nelson
#51 Damien Magnifico
#50 Jacob Barnes
#47 Jett Bandy
#46 Corey Knebel
#45 Tyler Cravy
#41 Junior Guerra
#38 Wily Peralta
#37 Neftalí Feliz
#35 Brent Suter
#33 Tommy Milone
