View source for Saúl Rivera

{{short description|Puerto Rican baseball player (born 1977)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Saúl Rivera
|image=5TH 7427 Saúl Rivera.jpg
|image_size=240px
|caption=Rivera with the Washington Nationals
|position=[[Relief pitcher]]
|bats=Switch
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1977|12|7}}
|birth_place=[[San Juan, Puerto Rico]]
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=May 25
|debutyear=2006
|debutteam=Washington Nationals
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=May 29
|finalyear=2010
|finalteam=Arizona Diamondbacks
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=13–15
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=4.29
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=192
|teams=
*[[Washington Nationals]] ({{mlby|2006}}–{{mlby|2009}})
*[[Arizona Diamondbacks]] ({{mlby|2010}})
}}
'''Rabell Saúl Rivera''' (born December 7, 1977) is a Puerto Rican former professional [[baseball]] [[pitcher]]. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Washington Nationals]] and [[Arizona Diamondbacks]].

==Career==
[[File:Saúl Rivera.jpg|thumb|left|Rivera in 2008 with the Nationals]]

===Minnesota Twins===
Rivera attended the [[University of Mobile]], and was drafted in the ninth round of the [[1998 Major League Baseball draft]] by the [[Minnesota Twins]]. He was assigned to the [[Elizabethton Twins]] after signing. He was promoted to the [[Quad Cities River Bandits]] in 1999, where he would spend the season. In 2000, he began the season with the advanced Single-A [[Fort Myers Miracle]] before receiving a promotion to the Double-A [[New Britain Rock Cats]]. He would spend the 2001 season with New Britain, pitching in 33 games for the club. He was added to the Twins roster in the offseason.

===New York Mets===
On November 20, 2001, Rivera was selected off waivers by the [[New York Mets]]. He began the 2002 season with the Double-A [[Binghamton Mets]].

===Montreal Expos===
On July 16, 2002, the Mets sent Rivera to the [[Montreal Expos]] as the [[player to be named later]] for the April trade of [[Bruce Chen]], [[Dicky Gonzalez]], and [[Luis Figueroa (baseball)|Luis Figueroa]] to Montreal in exchange for [[Scott Strickland]], [[Phil Seibel]], and [[Matt Watson (baseball)|Matt Watson]]. He was assigned to the AA [[Harrisburg Senators]] upon his acquisition. He began the 2004 season with Harrisburg.

===Milwaukee Brewers===
On June 7, 2004, the Expos traded Rivera to the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] with [[Peter Bergeron]] for [[Jason Childers]] and Jason Belcher. He was assigned to the Double-A [[Huntsville Stars]]. Rivera elected free agency on October 15, 2004.

===Washington Nationals===
On November 16, 2004, he signed with the [[Washington Nationals]]. He played for Harrisburg in 2005, playing in 40 total games for the team. Rivera made his MLB debut on May 25, {{mlby|2006}}, for the [[Washington Nationals]] against the [[Houston Astros]]. In that game, he got his first [[Hold (baseball)|hold]], pitching 2/3 of an inning. He [[Strikeout|struck out]] one and [[Base on balls|walked]] one. He had been called up from Triple-A [[New Orleans Zephyrs|New Orleans]] on May 22, 2006. He finished his rookie season with a 3.43 [[Earned run average|ERA]]. He struck out 41 and walked 32. In {{mlby|2007}}, he only allowed one [[home run]] in 93 innings pitched. Rivera spent 2007 between the major league club and the Triple-A [[Columbus Clippers]], pitching in 85 games for Washington. In 2008, played the entirety of the season with Washington, pitching in 76 games. In 2009, Rivera played in 30 games for the Triple-A [[Syracuse Chiefs]] and 30 for the major league club. On December 7, 2009, Rivera was released by the Nationals to make room on the 40-man roster for [[Brian Bruney]].<ref>Ladson, Bill. [http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091207&content_id=7766786&vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was Nationals acquire Bruney from Yankees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406134550/http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091207&content_id=7766786&vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was |date=2012-04-06 }}, [[Washington Nationals]]. Published December 7, 2009. Retrieved December 7, 2009.</ref>

===Cleveland Indians===
On December 21, 2009, Rivera signed a minor league contract with an invite to Spring training with the [[Cleveland Indians]]. He began the season with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers.

===Arizona Diamondbacks===
On May 17, 2010, Rivera was traded to the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] for cash considerations.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100517&content_id=10110396&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100521180401/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100517&content_id=10110396&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb| archive-date = 2010-05-21| title = D-backs acquire reliever Rivera from Indians {{!}} MLB.com: News}} </ref> He would play for the Triple-A [[Reno Aces]], but also appear in 4 major league games for Arizona, pitching to a 22.09 ERA over 3.2 innings. He was designated for assignment on June 8, he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A [[Reno Aces]] on June 11. He was released on July 26, 2010.

===Cleveland Indians (second stint)===
On August 21, 2010, Rivera re-signed with the [[Cleveland Indians]] on a minor league contract, and was assigned to Triple-A [[Columbus Clippers|Columbus]] the following day. He elected free agency on October 5.

===Saraperos de Saltillo===
On March 28, 2011, Rivera signed with the [[Saraperos de Saltillo]] of the [[Mexican League]]. He was released on June 29. In 12 games 13.1 innings of relief he struggled going 1-0 with a 6.08 ERA with 7 strikeouts and 1 save.

===Road Warriors===
On July 5, 2011, Rivera signed with the [[Road Warriors]] of the [[Atlantic League of Professional Baseball]]. He became a free agent after the season. In 28 games 42 innings of relief he went 2-4 with a 4.29 ERA and 29 strikeouts.

===Sugar Land Skeeters===
On July 31, 2012, Rivera signed with the [[Sugar Land Skeeters]] of the [[Atlantic League of Professional Baseball]]. He pitched to a 2.20 ERA over 18 games for Sugar Land, including 17 strikeouts. He became a free agent after the season.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{baseballstats| mlb=346800|br=r/riversa01| brm=rivera001rab}}

{{Puerto Rico roster 2009 World Baseball Classic}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rivera, Saul}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Arizona Diamondbacks players]]
[[Category:Atlantic League Road Warriors players]]
[[Category:Binghamton Mets players]]
[[Category:Columbus Clippers players]]
[[Category:Criollos de Caguas players]]
[[Category:Elizabethton Twins players]]
[[Category:Fort Myers Miracle players]]
[[Category:Gulf Coast Twins players]]
[[Category:Harrisburg Senators players]]
[[Category:Huntsville Stars players]]
[[Category:Indios de Mayagüez players]]
[[Category:Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente pitchers]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Mexican League baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:Mobile Rams baseball players]]
[[Category:New Britain Rock Cats players]]
[[Category:New Orleans Zephyrs players]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican expatriate baseball players in Mexico]]
[[Category:Quad Cities River Bandits players]]
[[Category:Reno Aces players]]
[[Category:Saraperos de Saltillo players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from San Juan, Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Sugar Land Skeeters players]]
[[Category:Syracuse Chiefs players]]
[[Category:Washington Nationals players]]
[[Category:2009 World Baseball Classic players]]