Position: 1B
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 190 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/L
Born: 09/13/1996
College: University of Arizona
Drafted: 4th round, 113th Overall, 2018 (Athletics)
How Acquired: Trade (with Padres for Rich Hill and Ji-Man Choi)
Bonus: $446,500
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: 1
Overview
Rivas’ main asset has always been his hit tool. At the minor league level, he’s shown a good eye at the plate, made contact and hit for average. For the most part, he’s shown very modest power. He came to the Pirates with the reputation of being an above-average defender at first, but the metrics, whether Outs Above Average or UZR, show him as below average.
2018-2020
Rivas jumped from high class A to AAA at the end of his first full season in 2019. Through that year, he hit for average and drew a lot of walks. Baseball America ranked him 18th in Oakland’s system in 2019. After the season, though, the A’s traded him to the Cubs. He spent the pandemic season at the Cubs’ alternate facility.
2021-23
Rivas went back to AAA and continued to put up a good average and walk total, but with only limited power. The Cubs called him up in August and he hit .318 in 18 games, but his season was cut short by a finger injury. Rivas spent most of 2022 with the Cubs, although he was sent down for several brief periods. He hit only 235/322/307 in the majors in 287 plate appearances. The Cubs released him after the season and he signed a minor league deal with the Padres. Rivas spent much of 2023 in the high-offense Pacific Coast League and put up a 1.043 OPS. San Diego put him on the 40-man roster and called him up briefly in June, then brought him back up in late July. On August 1 they traded him to the Pirates.
Having traded both Carlos Santana and Ji-Man Choi, and having no first base prospects in AAA, the Pirates needed a first baseman to finish out the 2023 season. Rivas played that role against RHPs. He hit for more power than usual and managed to post an OPS+ of 100. His BB:K was a weak 7:29. According to Statcast, he was a little below average defensively.
Stats
Transactions
June 5, 2018: Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 4th round, 114th overall pick; signed on June 10.
January 13, 2020: Traded by the Oakland Athletics to the Chicago Cubs for Tony Kemp.
August 28, 2021: Contract purchased by the Chicago Cubs.
January 5, 2023: Released by the Chicago Cubs.
January 12, 2023: Signed as a minor league free agent by the San Diego Padres.
June 2, 2023: Called up by the San Diego Padres.
August 1, 2023: Traded by the San Diego Padres with Estuar Suero and Jackson Wolf to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Rich Hill and Ji-Man Choi.