July 17, 2019
Photo credit: JC Ridley/Owlpix.com
Outfielder Eric Rivera is finding success with his plate approach in pro ball with the Bluefield Blue Jays.
Rivera, who has been patient in the box all season has 17 walks, 21 hits, and a .414 OBP.
And, as expected his great numbers can be contributed to the development of his plate approach in pro ball.
“I would say my approach is developing great,” said Rivera. “I always take my approach seriously and always try to work on it and get better at it everyday. I take great pride in doing that.”
His great start to pro ball should come as little surprise, as Rivera had a career NCAA OBP of .398 after 652 at-bats for Florida Atlantic University.
But for Rivera it was more than his great numbers that stood out to him about his time at FAU.
“FAU was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life,” stated Rivera. “I couldn’t be more grateful for that university and how they brought me in and taught me so much and made me not only a better ball player, but a better person, too.”
While, some players find the jump between college and pro ball to be a challenging one, Rivera is having fun with it.
“It’s still the same fun game I’ve been playing my whole life,” said Rivera. “Pro ball is a little bit faster, but that’s about it.”
Another area that Rivera is succeeding in is his play in the outfield. The prospect currently has a .980 fielding percentage with two outfield assists in 174 2/3 innings split between center and left field.
Whether it’s his play in the field, or his great plate approach, Eric Rivera is a name worth remembering.