Luis Rivera

Who is Luis Rivera?

Luis Antonio Rivera Pedraza is a former infielder in Major League Baseball, playing mainly as a shortstop for five teams from 1986 through 1998. Rivera batted and threw right-handed. He was the first base/infield coach of the Cleveland Indians from 2006 season until his dismissal at the end of the 2009 season. He is currently the third base coach for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Rivera reached the majors in 1986 with the Montreal Expos, spending three years with them before moving to the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals. His most productive season came in 1991 with Boston, when he hit .258 with 40 RBI, including career-highs in home runs, runs, hits, doubles, and games played.

Following his playing retirement, Rivera spent six seasons coaching and managing in the Cleveland Indians player development system. He started as a coach for the Class-A Kinston Indians from 2000–02, and managed the Lake County Captains in 2003–04, winning South Atlantic League Manager of the Year honors in 2003 after his team compiled a minor league-best record of 97–43. In 2005 he guided Kinston to the finals of the Carolina League Championship Series.