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Atlanta Braves released right-handed relief pitcher Armando Rivero

By Jeff Schafer

BOSTON, MA - JUNE 24: A glove and the rosin bag sit on the mound before the interleague game between the Boston Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park on June 23, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 24: A glove and the rosin bag sit on the mound before the interleague game between the Boston Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park on June 23, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images) /
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Braves release RHP Rivero

In hopes of building their 2017 bullpen, the Atlanta Braves selected Cuban-born right-handed pitcher Armando Rivero from the Chicago Cubs with the fifth selection in the 2016 Rule 5 Draft.

Rivero has been known to have an electric fastball and was a top prospect in the Cubs organization.  He struggled a little bit in 2015 at the Triple-A level and the Cubs decided to not protect him.  The Braves scooped him up in hopes to have stolen a gem away.

Rivero did come with a few knocks thought.  Those knocks began with his control.  An article written about Rivero back in 2015 from the USA Today Network suggested that Rivero had lost some of his velocity on his fastball.

Former Braves coach Eddie Perez may have pushed the Braves to sign Rivero back in 2016.  Perez was his manager for Venezuela for the two previous seasons.

Sinking velocity usually means something and in this case it did.  Rivero missed all of 2017 after the Braves selected him in the Rule 5 draft.  He didn’t pitch an inning in Spring Training because of a “shoulder injury”.

He began feeling the discomfort throwing in Venezuelan during the 2016 winter ball.  After not throwing in ST or in the regular season, the Braves placed him on the 60-day DL on July 17.  On October 21, they removed Rivero from the 40-man roster and outrighted him to the Gwinnett Braves.

Monday evening, the news broke that Rivero was released by the Atlanta Braves.

Many were thinking Rivero could have been a Mauricio Cabrera type pitcher for the Braves (well hopefully better than Cabrera), but it doesn’t look like he’ll get his opportunity within this organization.

Next: Playoffs in 2018? Playoffs?!?

We were hopeful for Rivero and his powerful fastball.  Hopefully he can get healthy and join another MLB franchise.  He’ll turn 30-years-old in February.

The reason the Braves released him is not yet known.  I believe he still had three options left.  Maybe the health of his shoulder was still a concern.  They should have kept him at Gwinnett and hope he got his form back…that is if the shoulder is okay.

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