Juan Rivera (baseball)

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**Juan Rivera**
Image:Juanrivera.jpg
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim — No. 20
Left Field
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
September 4, 2001 for the New York Yankees
Selected MLB statistics (through October 1, 2006)
Batting Average	.291
OPS	.815
Home runs	58
RBI's	225
Former teams
New York Yankees (2001-2003) Montreal Expos (2004)

Juan Luis Rivera (born July 3, 1978 in Guarenas, Miranda State, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball left fielder who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Rivera was signed by the Yankees as a non-draft amateur free agent in 1996 and made his debut in the 2001 season. When he came up to New York in midseason 2002, and while he showed promise, his .265 of batting average and one home run was a disappointment for the Yankees standard.

Rivera was sent to Triple-A Columbus in 2002. Rivera was again recalled in 2003, this time to hit seven homers (including a multi-homer game) with 26 RBI. Although he is not known for his speed, Rivera is considered an above average fielder who gets a good jump on the ball, has a strong throwing arm, and is adept at playing the outfield corners: left and right field. He and Nick Johnson were traded to the Expos before the 2004 season for Javier Vázquez. In Montreal he finished with a .307 batting average, 12 homers and 49 RBIs in 2004.

On November 19, 2004, he was sent along with shortstop Maicer Izturis to Anaheim in the same trade that brought outfielder José Guillén to the Washington Nationals. In his first season as an Angel, Rivera saw playing time as both an outfielder and a designated hitter. Although he started the season slowly, he stepped up his play in the final months of 2005 and finished with a .271 batting average and a then-career high 15 home runs and 59 RBIs in 106 games.

During the 2006 campaign, Rivera was made an everyday player, often starting at left field (or serving as the designated hitter when veteran Garret Anderson plays left). As of September 2006, Rivera is having his best statistical year yet, batting .302 with 21 home runs and 74 RBIs.

Juan Rivera was the starting left fielder for the Venezuelan team in the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

[edit] Current Contract

2 years, $3.275 million (2006-2007)

  -2006: $1.25 million
  -2007: $2.025 million
  -Eligible for free agency following 2008 season

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Coaching Staff	Manager: Mike Scioscia • Bench: Ron Roenicke • Pitching: Mike Butcher • Hitting: Mickey Hatcher • Bullpen: Orlando Mercado • First Base: Alfredo Griffin • Third Base: Dino Ebel
Rotation	John Lackey • Ervin Santana • Joe Saunders • Kelvim Escobar • Jered Weaver
Bullpen	Héctor Carrasco • Greg Jones • Darren Oliver • Francisco Rodríguez • Scot Shields • Justin Speier
Catchers	Jeff Mathis • José Molina • Mike Napoli
Infielders	Orlando Cabrera • Chone Figgins • Shea Hillenbrand • Maicer Izturis • Howie Kendrick • Casey Kotchman
Outfielders	Robb Quinlan • Garret Anderson • Tommy Murphy • Vladimir Guerrero • Gary Matthews, Jr. • Reggie Willits
Disabled List:	Bartolo Colón • Juan Rivera