| Emmanuel Rivera | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Rivera with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2021 | |
| Arizona Diamondbacks – No. 15 | |
| Third Baseman | |
| Born: June 29, 1996 Mayagüez, Puerto Rico | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 28, 2021, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| MLB statistics (through 2023 season) | |
| Batting average | .247 |
| Home runs | 17 |
| Runs batted in | 74 |
| Teams | |
| |
Emmanuel Miguel Rivera (born June 29, 1996) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball third baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021 with the Kansas City Royals.
Rivera has played since 2016 with the Indios de Mayagüez, one of the teams that participates in Puerto Rico's winter league.
Rivera was drafted by the Kansas City Royals out of the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico in the 19th round, 579th overall, of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.[1] He made his professional debut with the AZL Royals, playing in 38 games with the team.
In 2016, Rivera played for the rookie-level Burlington Royals, posting a .249/.317/.373 slash line in 58 games. The following year, he played for the Single-A Lexington Legends, slashing .310/.364/.468 with 12 home runs and 72 RBI. In 2018, Rivera split the season between the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks and the AZL Royals, batting a cumulative .274/.326/.416 with 6 home runs and 63 RBI. For the 2019 season, Rivera played for the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, logging a .258/.297/.345 slash line with 7 home runs and 57 RBI in 131 games.[2]
Rivera did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] He was assigned to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers to begin the 2021 season, and batted .282/.337/.593 with a career-high 14 home runs and 40 RBI in 44 games.
On June 28, 2021, Rivera was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[4] He made his MLB debut that day as the starting third baseman against the Boston Red Sox, and logged his first career hit in the game as well, a single off of Sox starter Garrett Richards. He was placed on the injured list on June 30 with a left hamate break.[5] He finished his rookie season appearing in 29 games for the Royals and hitting .256/.316/.333 with one home run, 5 RBI, and 2 stolen bases. In 2022, Rivera made 63 appearances for Kansas City, slashing .237/.284/.399 with 6 home runs and 22 RBI.
On August 1, 2022, the Royals traded Rivera to the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitcher Luke Weaver.[6] He played in 39 games for the Diamondbacks down the stretch, hitting .227/.304/.424 with 6 home runs and 18 RBI.
Rivera was optioned to the Triple-A Reno Aces to begin the 2023 season.[7]