BOSTON -- Just a day after he was promoted to Triple-A but never got to pitch, lefty Eduardo Rivera’s surreal start to his week continued with him all but needing a key to open Fenway Park on Wednesday.
The Red Sox called up their No. 26 prospect as rated by MLB Pipeline for Wednesday night’s eventual 4-1 loss to the Yankees.
“I was super early here,” Rivera said. “They told me to be here around noon, and I got here at 9:30. Like they said, I opened the ballpark.”
Many hours later, the bullpen gate swung open, and big No. 99 in his home white Red Sox jersey jogged onto the field and opened his career by punching out Jazz Chisholm Jr. to end the sixth inning.
There was more where that came from. A double play off the bat of Austin Wells helped Rivera face the minimum of three batters in the seventh.
And in the eighth, Rivera went through the meat of the Yankees’ batting order, inducing Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton into groundouts.
Rivera wound up pitching 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out three. He threw 41 pitches, 26 of them for strikes.
As for that overly-early arrival to Fenway by breakfast time, can you blame him for his excitement? Getting to the Majors has been an interesting journey for the 22-year-old.
Rivera, who is from Puerto Rico, was an 11th-round selection of the Athletics in the 2021 Draft. After battling injuries and control for several years, Rivera was released by the A’s in 2024 and signed three weeks later by the Red Sox.
“Obviously I would like to thank the Athletics organization because they were the ones that gave me the opportunity to play professional baseball,” Rivera said. “Obviously it was a very emotional journey. At the end of the day, it was very unexpected for me to be here, and that’s why I’m so happy and so appreciative of this moment for me and for my family as well.”
In a corresponding move, the club optioned right-hander Jack Anderson, who made his Major League debut at Target Field against the Twins last week, to Worcester. Triston Casas was transferred to the 60-day injured list to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Rivera.
Rivera, who stands 6-foot-7 and says he weighs 275 pounds (he's listed at 237), has a fastball that has topped out at 98 mph this season.
The combination of some recent shortened starts from the rotation and a right hamstring strain that placed righty Sonny Gray on the 15-day injured list has left the Red Sox trying to piece it together from a pitching standpoint the past few days.
How can Rivera help?
“Hard thrower. He's been under the radar the last few years,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “He’s a kid from back home [in Puerto Rico] that loves the game. He had a great [World Baseball Classic], threw the ball well and gained momentum. So with where we’re at right now pitching-wise, he can give us innings in the bullpen or we can use him as a situational lefty, so we'll see how it plays out.”
The Red Sox altered their rotation prior to Wednesday’s game, listing Brayan Bello’s originally scheduled start on Thursday as a TBD. Bello will pitch Friday in Baltimore, with Garrett Crochet and Connelly Early each getting an extra day of rest as well and pitching Saturday and Sunday.
In two starts for Double-A Portland this season, Rivera was 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA, walking three and striking out 16 in 10 innings.
COMPLETE RED SOX PROSPECT COVERAGE
Once Rivera got the news about his promotion to Boston, he couldn’t wait to share the news with his dad, who has the same first and last name.
“Yeah, my dad was the person who took me to the games, took me to the field every single day,” said Rivera. “I always lived with him. He’s the one I dedicate this to and the one that I call every time, and the one that I call first. His name is Eduardo Rivera. I love him so much. For me, I can’t wait to see him in a couple of hours. He’s going to be here. I’m very excited to share this moment with him.”
There were other people who flew in on short notice to witness Rivera’s first day in the Major Leagues.
“My wife and my brother will be here also,” said Rivera. “Also, there is a family that I met in Puerto Rico because of a dog, so they’re also coming here.”
About that dog?
“He’s a bat dog back in the team I play for in the Winter League in Puerto Rico,” Rivera said. “We got close to the hosting family, and every time I’m stressed or what not, the dog will calm me down. So for them to be here is very nice.”
The dog’s name is Salvatore. Salvatore was not part of the traveling party to Fenway.