TJ Rivera

Rooting for underdogs comes naturally to most of us. And getting the chance to see TJ Rivera finally make it to the majors makes me feel good. I first got a look at the Bronx-born infielder back in spring training -- where he got some playing time for the Mets, but didn't seem to be in the conversation about top prospects.
Wind the calendar ahead to August: onetime "2nd baseman of the future" Dilson Herrera is gone, traded to Cincinnati for Jay Bruce. Injuries to Jose Reyes, Asdrubal Cabrera and Neil Walker leave the Mets an infielder shy. And Rivera, hitting .347 at Triple A Las Vegas, finally gets the call. Sure, at nearly 28, he's "old" for a rookie. But that dogged determination to make it -- unwanted by bigtime NCAA programs, undrafted out of college, and six years in the minors -- paid off in the big moment. And he's done well in his first dozen or so games, hitting nearly .300 for a team badly in need of offensive help.
Seeing him Saturday night, coming into the game late, just made me feel good. T.J. Rivera (#75 in the Grapefruit League, #54 right now) is living his dream. Although yesterday, there was another bump in Rivera's road. The Mets optioned him to the minors in order to make room for pitcher Rafael Montero.

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