Getting to Know: Cubs third-rounder Josh Rivera |
After going with Jaxon Wiggins with their second pick in the 2023 MLB draft, the Cubs got right back to business as they continued to add experienced college talent. That has something this organization has been doing a ton of lately, and their round three pick certainly has the makeup of being another experienced player that may contribute sooner rather than later.
With the recent injury to Wiggins making him an unknown, the Cubs went with a more known player in round three and arguably one of the more underrated prospects in this year's class. Sure, it was another SS after they took one in round one, but anytime a player like Josh Rivera falls to you in round three, you have to take him. Ranked the 87th best prospect according to MLB Pipeline, the Cubs took Rivera with the No. 81 selection, so he fell in the same range he was projected to fall. Rivera was part of the Florida Gators National Runner-up team this season and was one of the more consistent prospects all season long, which bodes well for this organization. Rivera could have been drafted out of high school as he was an excellent player for IMG Academy. However, after a knee injury and his commitment to Florida knocked him down to the 22nd round, it made his decision to go to school a no-brainer. During his first three seasons in Gainsville, Rivera struggled to consistently put things together, but that all changed this season as he finally had the season the Gators expected. After hitting .279 across his first three-plus years with the Gators, the 6-1 and 215-pound Rivera figured something out this season as he finished the season with a .348 average across a career-high 70 games. He also added 19 homers after hitting just 17 career homers before that and drove in 72. Rivera also showed great speed swiping 18 of 22 bases and taking more walks 46 than strikeouts 35. When you look back at his first three seasons, you can make the case that it was two seasons, as his freshman year was cut short due to the pandemic. Still, he had minimal production until this season and even dealt with some concerning arm issues in 2022. However, he put all those concerns to bed this season as he remained healthy and started making consistent hard contact across the board. He’s not necessarily a pure hitter, with a bit of an unbalanced setup at the plate, but he’s been barreling up the ball all spring. Rivera has been doing that with an advanced eye at the plate, which has helped him tap into his raw power by seeing more pitches and taking more walks. The Cubs organization has started to focus on that in recent drafts, and Rivera falls into that category. Unlike most SS that have great range, Rivera is somewhat limited in range, but scouts do believe he has enough to remain at SS long-term. He is good going to his glove side and has no issues making everyday plays. He does all this without being too flashy, which has become a major part of the great game we, as fans, all love to see. Despite most scouts feeling he can stick at SS long-term, some feel his short arm and less-than-ideal arm strength could signal a move to 2B before too long. You could find him in a super-utility role where he bounces between several positions, another thing the Cubs have fallen in love with in recent years. As long as he continues to develop with the bat, which helped him climb the draft boards this season, the Cubs are getting a very good player with a decent ceiling and loads of potential.
