After undergoing ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery in September of last season, New York Mets utility player T.J. Rivera begins his rehab assignment with Advanced-A St. Lucie Mets.
He’ll be the designated hitter and will hit third in the Mets’ lineup tonight at First Data Field in Port St. Lucie.
Rivera, 29, went to Herbert H. Lehman High School in the Westchester Square section of the Bronx, then to Troy University in Alabama, before being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Mets in 2011.
With a .324/.370/.435 slash line over his seven seasons in MiLB, Rivera made his MLB debut with the Mets in 2016. Through 106 major league games (319 at-bats), he’s hitting .304/.335/.445 with eight home runs, 27 runs batted in, and 17 doubles.
The Mets roster could look considerably different after the July 31 trade deadline. By the time Rivera makes his return, he may have a roster spot waiting for him.
