Biography
Emmanuel Miguel Rivera (born June 29, 1996) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Miami Marlins.
Career
Kansas City Royals
Rivera was drafted by the Kansas City Royals out of the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico in the 19th round, 579th overall, of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona League Royals, playing in 38 games with the team.
In 2016, Rivera played for the rookie-level Burlington Royals, posting a .249/.317/.373 slash line in 58 games. The following year, he played for the Single-A Lexington Legends, slashing .310/.364/.468 with 12 home runs and 72 RBI. In 2018, Rivera split the season between the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks and the AZL Royals, batting a cumulative .274/.326/.416 with 6 home runs and 63 RBI. For the 2019 season, Rivera played for the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, logging a .258/.297/.345 slash line with 7 home runs and 57 RBI in 131 games.
Rivera did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was assigned to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers to begin the 2021 season, and batted .282/.337/.593 with a career-high 14 home runs and 40 RBI in 44 games.
On June 28, 2021, Rivera was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut that day as the starting third baseman against the Boston Red Sox, and logged his first career hit in the game as well, a single off of Sox starter Garrett Richards. He was placed on the injured list on June 30 with a left hamate break. He finished his rookie season appearing in 29 games for the Royals and hitting .256/.316/.333 with one home run, 5 RBI, and 2 stolen bases. In 2022, Rivera made 63 appearances for Kansas City, slashing .237/.284/.399 with 6 home runs and 22 RBI.
Arizona Diamondbacks
On August 1, 2022, the Royals traded Rivera to the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitcher Luke Weaver. He played in 39 games for the Diamondbacks down the stretch, hitting .227/.304/.424 with 6 home runs and 18 RBI.
Rivera was optioned to the Triple-A Reno Aces to begin the 2023 season. In 86 games for the Diamondbacks, he batted .261/.314/.358 with four home runs and 29 RBI. On March 28, 2024, Rivera was designated for assignment after failing to make Arizona's Opening Day roster.
Miami Marlins
On April 2, 2024, Rivera was traded to the Miami Marlins in exchange for cash considerations. In 96 games for Miami, he slashed .214/.294/.269 with one home run and 15 RBI. Rivera was designated for assignment by the Marlins on August 19.
Baltimore Orioles
On August 21, 2024, Rivera was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles. He had a pair of home runs and career-highs with four hits, four RBI and eleven total bases in a 9–2 away victory over the Minnesota Twins in the penultimate game of the regular season on September 28. In 27 total games for Baltimore, Rivera batted .313/.370/.578 with four home runs and 14 RBI.
On January 31, 2025, Rivera was designated for assignment by the Orioles. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides on February 10. After hitting .308 with 13 RBI in 17 games for Norfolk, the Orioles selected Rivera to their active roster on April 28.