Josh Rivera

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #60 prospect in 2023 draft
  School: Florida Source: 4YR
  
  Commit/Drafted: Padres ’19 (22)
  Age At Draft: 22.8
  BA Grade:45/High
  Tools:Hit: 45. Power: 45. Run: 50. Field: 50. Arm: 50.
  
  Rivera has been on the national scouting scene for a long time. He was a prep standout who showed impressive defensive chops and pure hitting ability, but after reaching Florida he never quite figured it out with the bat after dealing with a series of nagging injuries for many years. Something clicked for him in his 2023 draft year, as Rivera turned in an exceptional offensive season and hit .348/.447/.617 with 19 home runs as well as a 14.7% walk rate and 11.2% strikeout rate. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound righthanded hitter has plenty of bat speed, showed all-fields power and also hammered 92-plus mph fastball velocity this spring, to the tune of a .422/.513/.656 line. It’s a big and aggressive swing with plenty of length to the bat path, but Rivera has shown a solid ability to manipulate the barrel to all parts of the zone—and he’s had success expanding it at times as well. He might need to become more selective at the next level, but his improved walk and strikeouts rates this spring offer some encouragement about his approach. Despite a long finish, Rivera gets out of the box well and runs hard down the line, turning in above-average or plus home-to-first times, though he might be more of an average runner overall. He has solid defensive actions and arm strength at shortstop, with a chance to stick at the position, though third base or second could be a landing spot in pro ball as well. Rivera should be a priority senior sign with day one buzz given his strong season and prep pedigree.
• Ranked #489 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Florida Committed/Drafted: Padres ’19 (22)
  Age At Draft: 21.8
  Rivera has been an intriguing infielder dating back to his prep days, when he was the Co-MVP of Perfect Game’s World Wood Bat Championship with the Florida Burn. He flashed above-average hitting potential at the time but has never quite lived up to expectations in college with Florida. While Rivera has continued to play an everyday shortstop (something scouts didn’t expect) for the Gators, after three seasons he has hit just .259/.345/.414. This spring he managed a career-best nine home runs, and he has shown power to all fields with respectable strikeout (16.8%) and walk rates (11.5%). With evaluators continuing to believe he moves to third base at the next level, and with questions about his hit tool it’s a risky profile, but he has solid defensive actions, arm strength and some untapped power potential.