Luis Rivera (pitcher)
Encyclopedia
Luis Rivera Gutierrez is a former right-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher. He is 6'3" tall and weighes 163 pounds.
Prior to being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Braves in 1995, he attended Sistema Prepatoria Abierta in Telucha, Mexico.
He began his professional career in 1996 with the GCL Braves, not playing in American baseball in 1995 because he was loaned by the Braves to the Tigres del Mexico. With the GCL Braves in 1996, he went 1-1 with a 2.59 ERA.
In 1997, he pitched for the Danville Braves
and Macon Braves, going a combined 5-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 13 games started. In 62 innings of work, he had 84 strikeouts and 24 walks.
Ranked the 44th best prospect in baseball in 1998 by Baseball America
, Rivera went 5-5 with a 3.98 ERA for Macon that season. He struck out 118 batters in 92 2/3 innings that season.
Rivera was ranked the 71st best prospect in baseball by Baseball America in 1999 and the fourth best prospect in the Braves organization. That year he went 0-2 with a 3.11 ERA in 66 2/3 innings. He struck out 81 batters in 66 2/3 innings of work.
In 2000, he was ranked the 51st best prospect in baseball and the fifth best prospect in the Braves organization. He began the season on the Braves Opening Day roster, making his big league debut on April 4. He made five relief appearances for the Braves, going 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in 6 2/3 innings of work. He spent time with the GCL Braves and Richmond Braves
that year too, going a combined 0-3 with a 6.82 ERA.
On July 31, 2000, he was traded with Trenidad Hubbard
and Fernando Lunar
to the Orioles for Gabe Molina
and B. J. Surhoff. He appeared in only one game for the Orioles, allowing a walk and a hit in 2/3 of an inning. He also appeared in three games with the Rochester Red Wings
, going 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA. He played his final big league game on September 20, 2000.
Although he was ranked the fifth best prospect in the Orioles organization in 2001, he did not play at all that year or in 2002. On April 3, 2003, he was released by the Orioles. He has been playing in the Mexican League since then. On June 17, 2009 Rivera signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets, but never pitched for them. In , he appeared in one game for the Dorados de Chihuahua
.
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...
pitcher. He is 6'3" tall and weighes 163 pounds.
Prior to being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Braves in 1995, he attended Sistema Prepatoria Abierta in Telucha, Mexico.
He began his professional career in 1996 with the GCL Braves, not playing in American baseball in 1995 because he was loaned by the Braves to the Tigres del Mexico. With the GCL Braves in 1996, he went 1-1 with a 2.59 ERA.
In 1997, he pitched for the Danville Braves
Danville Braves
The Danville Braves are a minor league baseball team in Danville, Virginia, USA. They are an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League and have been a farm team of the Atlanta Braves since 1993. The Braves play home games at American Legion Post 325 Field...
and Macon Braves, going a combined 5-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 13 games started. In 62 innings of work, he had 84 strikeouts and 24 walks.
Ranked the 44th best prospect in baseball in 1998 by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
, Rivera went 5-5 with a 3.98 ERA for Macon that season. He struck out 118 batters in 92 2/3 innings that season.
Rivera was ranked the 71st best prospect in baseball by Baseball America in 1999 and the fourth best prospect in the Braves organization. That year he went 0-2 with a 3.11 ERA in 66 2/3 innings. He struck out 81 batters in 66 2/3 innings of work.
In 2000, he was ranked the 51st best prospect in baseball and the fifth best prospect in the Braves organization. He began the season on the Braves Opening Day roster, making his big league debut on April 4. He made five relief appearances for the Braves, going 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in 6 2/3 innings of work. He spent time with the GCL Braves and Richmond Braves
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
that year too, going a combined 0-3 with a 6.82 ERA.
On July 31, 2000, he was traded with Trenidad Hubbard
Trenidad Hubbard
Trenidad Aviel Hubbard is a former Major League Baseball journeyman outfielder. He is an alumnus of Southern University and A&M College....
and Fernando Lunar
Fernando Lunar
Fernando José Lunar [loo-NAR] , is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles . He batted and threw right-handed...
to the Orioles for Gabe Molina
Gabe Molina
Cruz Gabriel Molina is a former right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played from 1999 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2003 for the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals...
and B. J. Surhoff. He appeared in only one game for the Orioles, allowing a walk and a hit in 2/3 of an inning. He also appeared in three games with the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
, going 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA. He played his final big league game on September 20, 2000.
Although he was ranked the fifth best prospect in the Orioles organization in 2001, he did not play at all that year or in 2002. On April 3, 2003, he was released by the Orioles. He has been playing in the Mexican League since then. On June 17, 2009 Rivera signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets, but never pitched for them. In , he appeared in one game for the Dorados de Chihuahua
Dorados de Chihuahua
Dorados de Chihuahua were a baseball team from the city of Chihuahua. Recently Tuneros de San Luis moved to Chihuahua and took the Dorados namesake, which also brought the LMB Mexican Baseball League to Chihuahua for the first time since 1982. The Dorados played their home games at Estadio...
.