Juan Rivera (baseball)

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name=Juan Rivera

position=Outfielder
team=Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
number=21
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1979|7|3
debutdate=September 4
debutyear=2001
debutteam=New York Yankees
statyear=May 30, 2008
stat1label=Batting Average
stat1value=.287
stat3label=Home Runs
stat3value=60
stat4label=Runs Batted In
stat4value=234
teams=
*New York Yankees (by|2001-by|2003)
*Montreal Expos (by|2004)
*Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (by|2005-present)

Juan Luis Rivera (born July 3, 1978 in Guarenas, Miranda State, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball outfielder who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Rivera was signed by the Yankees as a non-draft amateur free agent in by|1996 and made his debut in the by|2001 season. When he came up to New York in midseason by|2002, and while he showed promise, his .265 of batting average and one home run was a disappointment for the Yankees standard.

Rivera was sent to Triple-A Columbus in 2002. Rivera was again recalled in by|2003, this time to hit seven homers (including a multi-homer game) with 26 RBI. Although he is not known for his speed, Rivera is considered an above average fielder who gets a good jump on the ball, has a strong throwing arm, and is adept at playing the outfield corners: left and right field. Rivera has also spent a good deal of time playing Centerfield. He and Nick Johnson were traded to the Expos before the by|2004 season for Javier Vázquez. In Montreal he finished with a .307 batting average, 12 homers and 49 RBIs in 2004.

On November 19, 2004, he was sent along with shortstop Maicer Izturis to Anaheim in the same trade that brought outfielder José Guillén to the Washington Nationals. In his first season as an Angel, Rivera saw playing time as both an outfielder and a designated hitter. Although he started the season slowly, he stepped up his play in the final months of 2005 and finished with a .271 batting average and a then-career high 15 home runs and 59 RBIs in 106 games.

During the by|2006 campaign, Rivera was made an everyday player, either starting at left field or serving as the designated hitter when veteran Garret Anderson played left. He finished the season with his best statistical year yet, batting .310 with 23 home runs and 85 RBIs.

Juan Rivera was the starting left fielder for the Venezuelan team in the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

While playing in the Venezuelan league, Juan Rivera broke his leg sliding for first and was placed on the disabled list by the Angels. This injury kept him out for most of the 2007 season. However, he returned on September 2 with the Angels, playing against the Texas Rangers.

ee also

* Players from Venezuela in Major League Baseball
* Montreal Expos all-time roster

External links