Luis F. Rivera
From BR Bullpen
Luis Felipe Rivera Despaigne
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 6' 1", Weight 206 lb.
- Born 1977
First baseman Luis Rivera has played for 15 seasons in Cuba (through 2011).
Rivera rapped 136 hits for Isla de la Juventud to lead the 2001-2002 Serie Nacional. In 2003, he had 32 hits for the Occidentales to tie teammate Michel Enríquez for the Súper Liga lead. After his ninth season, 2004-2005, he had batted .301/.376/.399 and fielded .987.
Luis was at .301/.430/.409 in 2005-2006, while fielding .995 at first. He fielded .990 in 2006-2007 and produced at a .325/.412/.451 clip with 22 doubles for Isla de la Juventud. In 2007-2008, he fell to .285/.404/.403 and fielded .988. His 64 walks were good for sixth in the Serie Nacional.
Rivera batted .308/.433/.459 with 69 walks and 76 runs in 87 games in 2008-2009; his fielding percentage was .998. He led the league with 836 putouts, 119 double plays (22 more than runner-up Leslie Anderson) and tied for 10th in walks. In 2009-2010, the veteran hit .319/.404/.449, fielding .996. His 114 double plays tied Lazaro Herrera for the most in Cuba. The steady contact man put up a .300/.412/.400 line in 2010-2011; he fielded .997.
