Maximo Rivera

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2010
DSL:  202/292/222, 99 AB, 2 2B, 10 BB, 27 K, 5-8 SB

Rivera struggled at the plate in his debut at age 17.  He played mostly third in the field, with a little time at second and short.

2011
DSL:  215/302/375, 200 AB, 7 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 24 BB, 47 K, 16-25 SB

Rivera continued to hit for a low average, but he had a good walk rate and showed very good power late in the season.  He again played third the most and saw time at second and short.

2012
DSL:  367/429/472, 199 AB, 7 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 19 BB, 26 K, 34-45 SB

Rivera evidently sacrificed some power for contact, as he hit for a high average and cut his strikeout rate almost in half.  He saw the majority of his action in center, but he played every position except pitcher and catcher, and frequently appeared as a DH.  He finished 2nd in the DSL in stolen bases and 11th in OPS.

2013
R:  244/330/337, 86 AB, 2 2B, 3 3B, 9 BB, 21 K, 6-8 SB

Rivera generally worked out with slightly more advanced players in spring training, which possibly indicated that the Pirates were considering sending him to Jamestown.  They’ll sometimes skip players over the GCL if they’re old for the level or have several years of experience in the DSL.  In the end, Rivera went to the GCL, where he played exclusively at first, other than one brief appearance at third.  That probably indicates that they don’t consider him more than a marginal prospect at best.  He didn’t hit well, struggling against RHPs (.524 OPS), although he pounded LHPs in limited chances (1.189 in just 17 ABs).

2014
R+:  310/355/408, 71 AB, 2 3B, 1 HR, 5 BB, 17 K, 3-5 SB
A:  208/287/247, 77 AB, 3 2B, 9 BB, 17 K, 1-4 SB

Rivera opened the season at a utility player for Bristol.  He saw time at all the corner positions and hit well.  In late July, the Pirates moved him up to injury-plagued West Virginia.  He played mostly in right and a little at first there, and didn’t hit much.

2015
A-:  229/349/243, 70 AB, 1 2B, 13 BB, 20 K, 5-8 SB

Rivera spent the season as a backup with Morgantown.  He played strictly in the outfield corners.  Other than drawing walks, Rivera did little at the plate.

If he’s back in 2016, Rivera should fill in somewhere at the lower levels of the system.