Drafted in the 8th round (235th overall) by the Los Angeles Angels in 1996.
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Riggan should make the most immediate impact of the four prospects the Indians acquired in the Roberto Alomar trade with the Mets. He no longer qualifies as a rookie, but he's eligible for this list despite pitching in 36 big league games because he hasn't exceeded 50 innings. New York promoted Riggan from Triple-A five times last year, and he settled in with a 2.36 ERA after the all-star break. Released by the Angels after two years as a starter, he has flourished in relief. He throws strikes with an 88-92 mph fastball, a slider and a splitter. Unlike some control pitchers, he's not hittable because he won't just lay the ball over the plate for the sake of throwing a strike. Riggan needs to get tougher on lefthanders and basestealers, but he should make the Opening Day roster.
Riggan came into his own last year, making his major league debut in just his third season after getting released by the Angels. When he was still in the Anaheim system following the 1997 season, Riggan was pitching in Hawaii Winter Baseball. Mets scouting director Gary LaRocque and minor league manager John Gibbons took note of him there. The next spring, Anaheim wanted to send Riggan back to low Class A so he requested his release. After sitting out a month, he accepted a low Class A spot--and a new opportunity--with New York. He spent that summer in the South Atlantic League before beginning his rapid ascent to Shea Stadium. Last year, Riggan picked up 4 mph on his fastball and touched 92 on occasion. He also throws a slider and an effective and consistent split-finger fastball. Riggan always has thrown strikes, but he has been less hittable since switching organizations. He'll fight Eric Cammack for a bullpen spot in New York this spring.
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