8 articles
CIN • Infielder • #76
16 days ago
Reds general manager Nick Krall insisted earlier this offseason that they have no plans to move Elly De La Cruz away from shortstop, despite his defensive struggles the past two seasons. However, they have several intriguing infield prospects on the way, including Balcazar — batting .385 (20-for-52) with four steals in 13 games this fall — who is doing his best this offseason to put his name in the same range as Sal Stewart, Cam Collier and Edwin Arroyo. The 21-year-old is unlikely to stick at shortstop long-term, especially since his athleticism and speed haven’t bounced back to pre-surgery levels after suffering a torn ACL during the 2023 campaign. He’ll likely open next season back at Double-A Chattanooga and could arrive in the big leagues at some point later in the year.
SEA • Infielder • #76
24 days ago
Rivas started in Game 4 with Victor Robles shifting to the bench and that’s the same alignment that the M’s will use against Kevin Gausman on Friday evening. Here’s the full lineup: Julio Rodríguez (CF), Cal Raleigh (C), Jorge Polanco (DH), Josh Naylor (1B), Randy Arozarena (LF), Eugenio Suárez (3B), J.P. Crawford (SS), Dominic Canzone (RF) and Rivas (2B).
Source: MLB
SEA • Infielder • #76
25 days ago
Rivas will get his first postseason start with a struggling Victor Robles heading to the bench as Seattle tries to mix some things up following a Game 3 rout at the hands of the Blue Jays. Here’s the full lineup: Randy Arozarena (LF), Cal Raleigh (C), Julio Rodríguez (CF), Jorge Polanco (DH), Josh Naylor (1B), Eugenio Suárez (3B), Dominic Canzone (RF), J.P. Crawford (SS) and Rivas (2B).
Source: MLB.com
SEA • Infielder • #76
2 months ago
The Cardinals failed to score in their half of the 13th, so they though Rivas might simply try to bunt the automatic runner over to start the bottom of the inning. Instead, he yanked the first pitch 361 feet down the right field line. It was Rivas’s first at-bat of the night after he previously pinch-ran for Jorge Polanco and his second big-league homer in 175 plate appearances since debuting last year. He’s been a very nice surprise in hitting .288/.416/.397, but it hasn’t made him a lineup fixture, as he’s started just one of the Mariners’ last four games.
SEA • Infielder • #76
2 months ago
Rivas hit .283/.411/.300 in 73 plate appearances between April and May, but the Mariners had kept him in the minors the last three months, even as he was hitting .318/.471/.507 at Tacoma. He’ll probably get some starts over Cole Young against lefties but mostly sit versus righties.
SEA • Infielder • #76
5 months ago
There simply isn’t a spot for Rivas in Seattle with top prospect Cole Young taking over as the club’s second baseman for the foreseeable future. The 27-year-old infielder has posted a lackluster .655 OPS across 73 games in the majors over the past two seasons.
SEA • Infielder • #76
6 months ago
Rivas figures to be a lineup fixture in Seattle for the near future. He’s yet to pick up an extra-base hit, but he’s 11-for-30 with nine walks, giving him a .513 OBP. He’s also 3-for-3 stealing bases.
SEA • Infielder • #76
7 months ago
Rivas has been starting at second against lefties lately, but especially since he’s the Mariners’ best defender at the position, there’s room for an expanded role if he continues to hit. He’s 7-for-21 with an impressive 4/7 K/BB and three steals so far.