No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn
Luis Rivera ready to balance the cyclone of performance and development in Coney Island
After spending five years in the New York Mets organization as a minor league player and 11 seasons since as a coach and manager throughout the system, Luis Rivera is taking his talents to Brooklyn this summer.
Well, back to Brooklyn. Rivera hit .272/.314/.304 over 250 plate appearances with the Cyclones in 2006. And .316/.356/.353 over 149 PA with Triple-A Buffalo in 2009 (Let’s go, Bisons!), but that’s beside today’s point.
The 38-year-old Carolina, Puerto Rico product now assumes the reins in Coney Island after working last season as the bench coach in Triple-A Syracuse, preceded by staff stints at Single-A Columbia (2019) and Double-A Binghamton (2018), plus a three-year stretch as manager with Kingsport from 2015 through 2017.
During that time, Rivera’s seen his fair share of current Mets staples make their way through the ranks. Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, and Tomás Nido with Bingo in 2018. Tylor Megill in Columbia. To a lesser extent, Patrick Mazeika in Kingsport.
“[Alonso] and McNeil, I had the opportunity to work with them. Tomás Nido, too. I’ve known [Nido] since his rookie year. He was playing in Kingsport. By then, I was the short-season hitting coordinator,” Rivera told The Apple. “It was a great to have those guys in Double-A together and help them to develop and make it to the big leagues. The way they were playing, you could tell they were very special players. Very special skills and tools.”
Even a few of the Mets’ not-ready-for-primetime players have fallen under his wing recently, and he’s come away impressed.
Ronny Mauricio — who Rivera got a very good look at as a wet-behind-the-ears 18-year-old with Columbia in 2019 (.268/.307/.357, 99 K, 29 XBH over 504 PA at 3 1/2 years below league average age) — has great potential despite a few growing pains (112 strikeouts in 453 PA between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton last season), per his former coach.
“I think he will get over the hump. Ronny is a really good hitter, really good tools. You know, he’s young. Everybody has to get better at specific things in this game,” he said. “I think he’s going to develop into a major leaguer.”
Ronny isn’t the only blue-chip prospect Rivera’s had the pleasure of observing up close. Khalil Lee, who hit .274/.451/.500 with 162 wRC+ (10th in MiLB) over 388 plate appearances with Triple-A Syracuse last season, is set to join the Mets’ major-league mix in 2022. And Lee’s former bench coach thinks he could be a difference-maker at the highest level.
“I think he’s got the tools,” Rivera said. “He showed some good power, good consistency. He can play the outfield well. Good arm, accurate arm. Almost a five-tool player. I think he will make an impact.”
Rivera’s personal experiences as a ballplayer combined with watching the progression of minor leaguers through the eyes of a coach leave him well-prepared to take on the challenge of fostering both performance and development throughout a critical point in the process for these young men.
With the big dogs bubbling up (Brett Baty, Francisco Álvarez, and Mauricio are all expected to begin the season in Bingo) and young studs Jaylen Palmer, Alex Ramirez, and J.T. Schwartz primed to enjoy some quality time by the boardwalk this summer, Rivera seems fired up by the opportunity that lies ahead.
“It’s a pleasure and an honor to be able to work with these players,” he said. “Even the guys I haven’t coached, I’ve seen them play, I’ve seen them practice. They have the tools, skills, and projections to make it. I’m excited. I feel very fortunate to be working with the Mets for so long. That’s every coach’s goal; to try to help all these guys to make it to the big leagues.”
Rivera’s also witnessed the analytical shift that’s taken place across the organization in recent years. It’s fair to assume that watching those tides change first-hand may give him a leg up on utilizing the treasure trove of data at his team’s disposal to its full potential. Ultimately, it’s all about balance.
“You try to prepare yourself as best as you can — training, practicing, developing — so when the time comes, you’re ready to play,” he said. “You gotta use both, information and instincts. Numbers don’t lie. But in some situations, you have to trust yourself, too.”
With regard to the Mets’ push toward streamlining that data into the hands of their players, Rivera says the change in operations as of late has been more than evident.
“Over the years, the analytics and side of the game have gotten better,” he said. “It’s working. It’s a positive thing. We use the data for a lot of things. Projections for our organization, our players. I think it’s a good thing.”
Rivera, already in Port St. Lucie as minor league camp began this weekend, projects to be on the cutting edge of this new era of Mets baseball. Exciting times.
Use promo code THEAPPLE for a 125% deposit bonus when you sign up with our new partner, BetUS!
Never any paywalls. Once it leaves my head, it’s yours. If you want to pay me for my work, it’s greatly appreciated.
Become a paid subscriber below, or if you enjoyed the story, drop a buck or two in our Venmo account (@TheAppleNYM)