This report is about Thomas Javier Rivera ( T.J. Rivera). Rivera is a short stop/second baseman/ third baseman in the Mets organization. Rivera ended his 2015 season with the Triple-A Las Vegas 51’s.
Rivera is born on Oct. 27, 1988 in the Bronx.Rivera attended Lehman High School in the Bronx and after that he went to the Troy University.
He went undrafted after his college days and the Mets picked him up in 2011 where he started his pro career with the (rookie league) Kingsport Mets. In 27 games he did pretty well with a .290 batting average and a .353 on base precentage. He hit 1 homerun and drove in 14. He earned himself a promotion to the (low-a) Brooklyn Cyclones. With Brooklyn Rivera did not stop hitting. He hit an impressive .326 batting average but he did not get on base as much. He had a .340 on base precentage in just 15 games. He did not hit for much power in the 2011 season.
Rivera started his 2012 season with the Single-A Savannah Gnats. He had a great 64 games with the Gnats. He batted 333 with a very good 393 on base precentage. He did not strike out a lot and showed some more power. He hit 8 homeruns and drove in 37 runs. He defintly earned a promotion to the Single-A St Lucie Mets. He did solid in St Lucie batting 306 in 64 games. He had a 346 on base precentage. His power was little down with only 1 homerun and 29 runs batted in. He did have 11 steals in the whole season.
In 2013 Rivera played his whole season with the St Lucie Mets. He had another solid season. He played in 125 games batting 289 (witch is pretty good but a down year for him) with a 348 on base precentage. His slugging was also down as he only hit 2 homeruns and drove in 51. He had fewer doubles and triples as years past.
After a bit of a down year in 2013, Rivera started his 2014 season with the St Lucie Mets. That season he looked a lot better with St Lucie. He played in 61 games batting .341 with a .383 on base precentage. He hit 4 homeruns and drove in 47. He earned himself a promotion to Double-A Binghamton Mets. He played 54 games and did absolutly great in Binghamton. He hit .358 with a marvelous .394 on base precentage. He hit 1 homerun and drove in 28. A great season for Rivera as he put himself on the radar for a Mets prospect.
He started his 2015 season with the Double-A Binghamton. That was more because the Mets had no real place for him in Las Vegas. He did great again in Binghamton batting 341 in 56 games before his promotion. He had a 380 on base precentage and hit 5 homeruns with 27 runs batted in. He finally got his promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas. He kept on hitting although he was a little under the team batting average as we all know Vegas in a hitters heaven. He hit 306 with a 345 on base precentage in 54 games.
My take on TJ Rivera:
Rivera has never been a top prospect and he flies under the radar as a prospect. Rivera is 27 years old so he is in his prime of his career. As a undrafted player he fell a little bit behind other prospects.
I think Rivera will start next year with the Las Vegas 51’s although at this point the Mets have their middle infield set in Vegas. We know with the moves the Mets made Dilson Herrera will problably be the 2nd baseman in Vegas and Reynolds will play short again in Vegas. He could play some 3rd in Vegas and I think/hope he will get a short to play there in Vegas. He has shown the abillity to hit in all minor league levels and plays multiple postions solid. I have read the idea to play him some in the outfield also. If that works he could be a valuable versital player for the 51’s.
As far as making the MLB squad for Rivera his time is running out. At this point, the Mets have a versital infield with Walker, Cabrera, Tejada and Flores. And I think the first call for a infielder in the minors will go to Reynolds, Herrera and Campbell depending on the position. And Rivera did turn 27 years old so his time has to come soon.
I like his versatility and he showed in the minors that he can hit in all levels but, I would like to see him hit in Vegas before I would consider him.
Rivera was not claimed in the Rule 5 draft. If he keeps hitting I think he will get a shot somewhere in the Majors if its not with the Mets.
I hope you all liked it. If you have a suggestion for a Mets prospect/minor leaguer or Major leaguer let me know.
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