MARIANO RIVERA JR. WAS DRAFTED

The big day finally arrived for Mariano Rivera Jr. In the 4th round, with the 133th pick overall, the Washington Nationals picked Rivera. Most scouts had him pegged for the 5th or 6th round, but Rivera had huge success, and his talent and performance this past year is unmistakable. The Nationals have a history of picking good prospects in the draft – Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper, to name two – and I fully expect Rivera to be on that list.

As many of you know, the Yankees drafted Rivera in the 29th round last year. He was in his sophomore year of college then, but he never seriously considered making the jump to professional baseball. Instead, he chose to stay at Iona and play one more year while continuing his education. The gamble paid off, as his numbers took a profound step forward. His ERA dropped to 2.65 and he notched 113 strikeouts for a K/9 of 11.96. It’s no surprise that he got picked as early as he did.

Honestly, I’m disappointed that he was not picked by the Yankees. His father has said that he is happy for him, that he feels “no disappointment. This is business. We treat it like that.” Obviously he is not going to take away from the joy of the day, a day Rivera Jr. will remember for the rest of this life. If there is any disappointment, it stems from our expectation that he will have a very successful career, and we would have loved it to have been in Yankee pinstripes.

Mariano Rivera Jr. still has to sign with an agent and agree to terms with Washington. But he has to be excited at the prospects of joining the Nationals. This team is favored to make a run for the World Series this year and is drafting like they’re trying to build a perennial playoff contender. So while we would not look forward to facing him in a World Series, we are happy for him and wish him the best of luck.

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon
My blog is: Shots from Murderer's Row






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DRAFT DAY FOR MARIANO RIVERA JR.

Mariano Rivera has been pitching like a boss lately. No, not that Mariano Rivera. I am talking about his son – Mariano Rivera Jr. Some of you might remember last summer’s MLB Amateur Draft, where the Yankees drafted Rivera in the 29th round. He was a Sophomore then, but chose to continue his education and stay at Iona. He is a Junior now, and he will be eligible for the 2015 Amateur Draft, taking place in the early part of next week. Many believe he could place much higher this year, and it should be no surprise if you have seen his record.

This was his third year of college baseball, primarily functioning as a starter. You may remember that his father also began his career as a starter before he landed in the bullpen. Either way, this kid’s performance is noticeably good. In three full seasons, his ERA went from 7.25 to 5.40 to 2.65. His 113 strikeouts over 85 innings this year more than doubled the previous year’s numbers. His K/9 this year was 11.96, almost double the prior year’s, and fifth in the nation in NCAA Division I baseball. He also tied for fifth in the nation in complete games with six. A couple of weeks ago, he was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year. Yes, he is that good.

The only downer on this is that he may not be a Yankee. Last year his numbers were not remarkable, and the Yankees spending their 29th round pick (872nd overall) was more of a show of support for the legendary closer. Now he has started to step out of the shadow of his Future Hall of Fame father, establishing himself in his own right, and other teams will likely take notice. Interestingly, it will be a new experience for both father and son since the Sandman was never drafted (he was signed straight out of Panama). Whatever happens, we wish them both all the best next week.

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon
My blog is: Shots from Murderer's Row







You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store!  Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook!  Also, don't forget to check out the BYB Hub!

THE EXPECTATION FOR A SON

When Mariano Rivera III was drafted to the New York Yankees, the Yankees fan base rejoiced. The son of our beloved Sandman, Mariano Rivera, would wear pinstripes. It is inevitable that his son would one day lead us the way his father did. Comments like "I hope the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," and "Mo will return," were thrown out. But are our expectations of Junior realistic? Are they really fair?

Every scouting report I have read on Junior says the same thing. He has pitching control issues. He has a fastball in the low 90's, but no cutter. He's 5'11" and 155lbs at 20 years old, so his physical frame isn't ideal for a pitchers either. Still, Mo was only 6'2", and Junior still has some growing to do. I wouldn't hold that against him too much. But what can we expect of Junior? Will he follow in his fathers foot steps?

According to the Daily News, Mo is "wary" of the expectation for his son. Here's the quote:

"Rivera said his son must create his own name. "The thing is he has to," Rivera said. "If everything goes well and we agree to the terms, he has to be his own. It's going to be unfair to try to compare him with me or try to expect he will do something I did. They have to know what he has and the ability he has and go from there because if you're going to compare him to me that's going to be unfair."

I get it. We are all very excited about Junior being drafted. It's awesome for the Rivera family, for the organization, and for Yankees fans. But Mo is being careful about his child's well being. He is letting it be known now that his son is just that. His SON. Not a carbon copy of him. Junior probably won't go out and break the same records as dad, and won't pitch the same way either. He is an entirely different individual, and to expect him to be Mo is to cut him down before he even starts. It's unfair.

(In photo: Ryan Ripken)
I'm sure that other draft picks are experiencing the same thing right now. Ryan Ripken, drafted by the Washington Nationals, is son of Cal Ripken Jr. Nick Gordon, drafted by the Minnesota Twins, is son of Tom Gordon. But maybe, it's just too much pressure for the kids. They have huge shoes to fill, and if they continue attempting to live up to the expectations of their fathers, they will end up living in their shadows instead.

Bottom line, let them play. Cheer them on, and hope for the best. They have got to create their own names, and their own legacies. The comparisons are unfair to the players they will become. If we constantly expect Junior to be our Sandman, we'll miss all the great things he will do.

--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer 
Twitter: @e_morales1804

 
 

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THE NEXT RIVERA

I recently wrote a piece wondering if history was repeating itself in the form of Dellin Betances.  His progress and statistics are eerily similar to the 1996 version of Mariano Rivera. 

The Yankees have taken things one step further.  

With the 872^nd pick of MLB’s Amateur Draft the Bombers selected Mariano “Mo” Rivera III.  A junior at Iona College, the right-handed pitcher is built like his father (a lanky 5’11”) and can throw a fastball that hits the low 90’s.  His out-pitch is a slider (before the cutter, that’s what his dad threw).

As New York Post’s Zach Braziller writes:

Rivera, a rising junior who wears No. 6 — not 42 like his dad — has improved each year at Iona, after playing sparingly in high school at Iona Prep while growing up in Harrison, N.Y. 

He began to take baseball seriously in college and has rapidly progressed.

He’s been adamant his father’s shadow hasn’t affected his own path, nor will it.

“The fact that I’m a Yankee doesn’t change anything,” Rivera said. “I’m still my own person. I still have to develop. I still have to go on that road on my own. I have to do my own, thing, I have to work hard, get stronger.”

It’s evident that when it comes to doing things the right way, the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree, and Sean Brennan of the New York Daily News quotes Iona Coach Pat Carey:

“And to his credit he’s a very hard worker, a great work ethic. He’s never acted like he comes from baseball royalty.”

Humble, and a hard worker – yeah, he’s a Rivera.

Rivera III hasn’t decided whether to sign or not, and certainly will discuss it with his dad and coach.  You aren’t going to get better advice anywhere else.

“Little Mo’s” stats as the top starter for Iona last season aren’t spectacular by any means (2-6, 5.40 ERA) and he is considered a borderline prospect.  Keep in mind that he’s young (19-years-old) and still developing.

It would be wrong for any of us to place the expectation of success that his dad had upon his shoulders – or for that matter upon anyone’s shoulders.   As has been written before, a Mariano Rivera comes along once in a lifetime (if we’re lucky).  To think that history is so quickly repeating itself is unrealistic.  Then again, given what Dellin Betances has done and the pedigree that the Yankees 29^th round pick brings to the table, the Yankees have given themselves the best possible chance that it will.

    

--Steve Skinner, BYB Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1



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LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

Here's a great nugget that I wanted to share with you all. Many have probably missed it.  Mariano Rivera Jr. is headed to New Hampshire to take the mound for a collegiate summer program.  He'll be pitching just like his old man, Mariano Rivera. Gotta love that.

According to the Bergen Record:

"Mariano Rivera Jr. will join the Laconia Muskrats this summer, part of the 12-team New England Collegiate Baseball League. He’s a right-hander, like his dad." 

 In an interview with New Hampsire Public Radio, Mariano Jr said:

"I like to be my own guy... People would always look at me like, ‘That’s Rivera’s son, he must be amazing.’ It was hard because people have such high expectations, and if I didn’t perform to those standards, I felt like I let everyone down. But now I work to my abilities. If I get called to pitch, I’m going to do the best that I can.”

That article also says: 

"Playing for the Laconia Muskrats could improve the college sophomore’s chances. More than 70 percent of NECBL players go on to play some professional baseball.

When Rivera comes to New Hampshire this summer, he’ll play his home games at an idyllic little facility called the Robbie Mills Sports Complex."

If you live near there, I would hope you go out and see this new kid, also nicknamed "Mo".  I already love this kid's attitude. I wish him the best.

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