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Prospects On The Fringe: Infielder T.J. Rivera

By Former Writers

November 13, 2013 2 Comments

For the purpose of our series of posts, we define the word fringe as any prospects, which we considered, that were absent from MMN’s own Top 40 Prospect lists.  The purpose of the series is to identify prospects that are showing promise above what fans might expect and what their futures will hold within the Mets organization.

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TJ Rivera

T.J. Rivera  – 2B/SS

DOB: 10/27/1988 (Age: 25)

Bats/Throws:  Right/Right

2013 Stats: .289/.348/.351, 76 R, 145 H, 23 Doubles, 1 Triple, 2 HR, 51 RBI, in 502 At Bats

2013 Review

T.J. Rivera played a full season with St. Lucie and in 125 games, he led the Florida State League with 145 hits.  He was a consistent bat in the lineup, as he showed with his 9-game hit streak in mid-May, 14-game hit streak in mid-July, 13-game hit streak in early August, and a total of 39 multi-hit games. On the defensive side, while playing both up the middle positions he had a .979 Fld %,  turned 74 double plays, and made just 10 errors in 539 chances.  He helped lead St. Lucie’s second half push where they nearly pulled off a miracle and barely missed winning the division.

Prospect Outlook

Rivera proved his worth to the Mets organization with a solid 2013 campaign. Signed back in 2011, he has progressed through the minors each season taking a step in the right direction. He is not a player that will put up big offensive numbers, but he will get on base consistently and set the table for the big hitters in the lineup. He is a very good defensive infielder and should continue to prove that when he is promoted to the next level. For now he is not considered a Top Prospect, but if he continues with the same progress he has shown, it will be very difficult not to consider him as one.

2014 Prediction

With 2013 in the books, and a FSL Hits Award on his trophy shelf, he should be taking his steady bat and defensive prowess to Binghamton.  Initially not considered a viable move to play with the B-Mets, which I am sure was due to the team not having a position available for him; he has earned a promotion and should be the starting second baseman for the B-Mets in 2014.  Only a year or two away from making his major league debut, I see Rivera continuing his development and making an impact on a major league roster in the near future.  Hopefully that roster will be in Queens, just a stone throw away from his old neighborhood in the Bronx.

(Photo Credit – Humberto Trimino)

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