Saul Rivera
Encyclopedia
Rabell Saúl Rivera is a right-handed Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
currently a free agent
.
Rivera attended the University of Mobile
, and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
by the Minnesota Twins
.
Rivera was selected off waivers by the New York Mets
after the 2001 season. In July 2002, the Mets sent Rivera to the Montreal Expos
as the player to be named later
for a trade executed in April. In June 2004, the Expos traded Rivera to the Milwaukee Brewers
with Peter Bergeron
for Jason Childers
and Jason Belcher. Following the 2004 season, he signed with the Washington Nationals
.
Rivera made his MLB debut on May 25, , for the Washington Nationals
against the Houston Astros
. In that game, he got his first hold
, pitching 2/3 of an inning. He struck out
one and walked
one. He had been called up from Triple-A New Orleans
on May 22, 2006. He finished his rookie season with a 3.43 ERA
. He struck out 41 and walked 32. In , he only allowed one home run
in 93 innings pitched.
On December 7, 2009, Rivera was released by the Nationals to make room on the 40-man roster for Brian Bruney
. Rivera signed a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training with the Cleveland Indians
on December 21, 2009.
On May 17, 2010, Rivera was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks
for cash considerations.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Released: RHP Saul Rivera
On August 22, 2010, Rivera re-signed with the Cleveland Indians
, and was assigned to Triple-A Columbus
the following day.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.
Career
University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is an American four-year, private, Baptist-affiliated university in Mobile, Alabama. The master's-level university has an enrollment of 1,577.-History:...
, and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
1998 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1998 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1998...
by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
.
Rivera was selected off waivers by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
after the 2001 season. In July 2002, the Mets sent Rivera to the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
as the player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
for a trade executed in April. In June 2004, the Expos traded Rivera to the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
with Peter Bergeron
Peter Bergeron
Peter Francis Bergeron is a former professional baseball outfielder. Bergeron appeared 308 Major League games, all of which were played with the Montreal Expos over five different seasons. He was known as primarily being a leadoff hitter, with above average speed and defensive skills...
for Jason Childers
Jason Childers
Jason Lee Childers is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays organization.He is the brother of Matt Childers.-External links:...
and Jason Belcher. Following the 2004 season, he signed with the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
.
Rivera made his MLB debut on May 25, , for the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
against the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. In that game, he got his first hold
Hold (baseball)
A hold is awarded to a relief pitcher who meets the following three conditions:Unlike saves, wins, and losses, more than one pitcher per team can earn a hold for a game, though it is not possible for a pitcher to receive more than one hold in a given game...
, pitching 2/3 of an inning. He struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
one and walked
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
one. He had been called up from Triple-A New Orleans
New Orleans Zephyrs
The New Orleans Zephyrs are a minor league baseball team based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The Zephyrs play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Zephyrs play their home games at Zephyr Field....
on May 22, 2006. He finished his rookie season with a 3.43 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. He struck out 41 and walked 32. In , he only allowed one home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
in 93 innings pitched.
On December 7, 2009, Rivera was released by the Nationals to make room on the 40-man roster for Brian Bruney
Brian Bruney
Brian Anthony Bruney is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals, and Chicago White Sox....
. Rivera signed a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
on December 21, 2009.
On May 17, 2010, Rivera was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
for cash considerations.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Released: RHP Saul Rivera
On August 22, 2010, Rivera re-signed with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, and was assigned to Triple-A Columbus
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
the following day.