The New York Yankees enjoyed eighteen years watching Mariano Rivera Sr. develop into one of the most storied closing pitchers in MLB history. Now, they possibly have the chance to get somewhat of an encore.
Mariano Rivera Jr., a right-hander currently enrolled at Iona, has been drafted in the 29th round by the Yankees.
29 (872): @Yankees select Iona RHP Mariano Rivera. http://t.co/eZd78rrDl8#MLBDraft
— MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) June 7, 2014
Don’t get too excited just yet though Yankees fans. Rivera Jr. is still very much a raw talent. Although he would love to try to fill his legendary father’s footsteps; he still has a long road to the major leagues. The Bleacher Report shared a brief overview of his accomplishments:
The pitcher [Rivera Jr.] posted a 2-6 record this season to go with a 5.40 ERA. The good news is that he has proven to have a willingness to go deep into games, leading the team with 70 innings pitched (including five complete games). He also had an impressive 50 strikeouts, although his 26 walks likely hurt his performances. Besides working on control, he will likely need to add weight to his 5’11”, 155-pound frame.
With Rivera Jr. only being a sophomore, and still needing to develop both his body and his talent, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him return to school for his junior season.
Either way, I’m sure he will be in great hands while he’s honing his craft and preparing for the next level.
[H/T Bleacher Report]