Colorado Springs – Stiffness in Oscar Rivera’s left shoulder forced Mexican coaches to choose opportunity over country. Rivera, a candidate to make the Rockies’ rotation, did not appear in the Caribbean World Series this week as precaution.
Rivera, 24, developed stiffness in his lat muscle, but was prepared to pitch today in Puerto Rico. With Mexico out of contention, team officials, including Rockies advisor Vinny Castilla, decided it wasn’t worth the risk given what Rivera has at stake later this month. The Rockies worked out an agreement with his Mexican regular-season team to purchase his rights for $1.3 million if he’s placed on the 40-man roster.
Rivera, who has a power changeup and good control, is one of several pitchers in the mix for the final rotation spot.
“We just heard it was some stiffness. He should be fine,” said Rockies director of baseball operations Jeff Bridich, before speaking at the Hot Stove session in Colorado Springs.
Footnotes
With Dan Kolb headed to the Pirates, there will be more opportunities for relievers Ramon Ramirez and Manny Corpas. Bridich said the Rockies were pleasantly surprised when Corpas showed up unannounced at Coors Field recently to increase the intensity of his workouts leading to spring training. Outfielder Matt Holliday was prepared to fly back from spring training, if necessary, to attend the birth of his second child. However, his wife Leslee is planning now to have the baby in Tucson, instead, where Holliday will arrive this week. New Rockies hitting instructor Alan Cockrell received loud applause when introduced today at the Hot Stove event. Cockrell said, “I can’t wait to get to spring training and get going.”
Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
