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Red Sox ‘big dude’ prospect could play big role out of bullpen for Puerto Rico in quarterfinals
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- Red Sox ‘big dude’ prospect could play big role out of bullpen for Puerto Rico in quarterfinals
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Probably the least known member of the Red Sox organization in the World Baseball Classic might get a late-game opportunity to try to help Puerto Rico advance to the semifinals Saturday.
Eduardo Rivera , a 22-year-old left-handed pitching prospect, dominated in his start against Panama in pool play last Saturday. He allowed just one run, one hit and one walk while striking out five in 4 ⅓ innings.
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Puerto Rico will play Italy in the quarterfinals at 3 p.m.
Seth Lugo , a 2024 AL All-Star, will start for Puerto Rico but Rivera might play a factor late in the game.
“I think he’s coming out of bullpen (Saturday), which is interesting with all those lefties, and see how he can perform,” manager Alex Cora said Friday at JetBlue Park.
Boston signed the 6-foot-7 lefty in June 2024 after the Athletics surprisingly released him. The Red Sox targeted him quickly.
“Age, physicality, velo, left-handed,” director of professional scouting Harrison Slutsky said last season. “Let’s not overthink this one. We wanted to get him in our program.”
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Rivera struck out five and reached 97.4 mph with his fastball on two occasions in his start vs. Panama . Thirty-eight of his 56 pitches (68%) were four-seam fastballs. He averaged 95.2 mph with it.
He also mixed in eight changeups, seven sinkers and three sliders. He recorded nine swings-and-misses.
“Threw the ball well,” Cora said. “Controlled his emotions. He’s a big dude that throws hard. Throughout his career, he’s been able to beat the projections. So he’s an interesting guy. Interesting.
The Red Sox plan to pitch him, who’s in minor league camp, in some Grapefruit League games when he returns.
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“Hopefully after the tournament, we can bring him here, face a few lefties and pitch here for us so people can see him,” Cora said.
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