Red Sox pitching prospect impresses in Puerto Rican Winter League
With spring training only a few weeks away, players are getting ready for what the 2025 campaign will bring. Over the last few months, Red Sox prospect Eduardo Rivera has been improving his game in the Puerto Rican Winter League. Due to an impressive winter, he has put himself on the map heading into the spring.
During the winter, Rivera was pitching for the Cangrejeros de Santurce. In 11 games, Rivera posted a 1.15 ERA and struck out 56 batters. He also did a great job limiting hard contact, as the 21-year-old did not allow a home run. He showed why the Red Sox wanted to add him to the organization last summer.
After signing a minor league deal with the Red Sox in June, the talented lefty appeared in 10 games in the FCL and Low-A. In the FCL, he posted a 4.70 ERA and struck out eight batters. He then finished the season in Salem, where he thrived in six outings. Against more advanced competition, Rivera allowed five earned runs in 22.2 innings of work. He also held opponents to a .175 batting average.
As Rivera looks to build on his success, he has an intriguing arsenal. His pitch mix includes a fastball that tops out at 97 miles per hour and a slider that can miss bats. He also possesses a changeup that was used sparingly last year and is a work in progress.
At the moment, Rivera projects to be a depth arm with the potential to be a starter. Last season, he split time between the bullpen and rotation, taking on whatever role the Red Sox needed.
Rivera is a prospect who could make some news during the 2025 campaign. He showed promising signs towards the end of the season and has built on his success. Bullpen depth is never a bad thing, and if Rivera can continue to improve, he could force himself into the Red Sox’s plans.
