Mets Season in Review: Rene Rivera

By Emmanuel Pepis
Aug 16, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New York Mets catcher Rene Rivera against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 16, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New York Mets catcher Rene Rivera against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mets backup catcher was important to defense last season.

Aug 16, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New York Mets catcher
Aug 16, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New York Mets catcher /

Going into the 2016 season, it was hard to imagine journeyman catcher Rene Rivera being a part of the New York Mets’ backstop contingent. Rivera was signed to a minor league deal in early April and wound up playing 65 games.

Travis d’Arnaud suffered through another injury plagued season and took a step back in his development. Kevin Plawecki was thought to be the guy who would take over for d’Arnaud, but he spent half the season in the minors. That left the 33-year old Rivera to handle the Mets’ pitching staff, and all things considered he did a solid job.

Nobody would confuse Rivera with an offensive threat at the plate. In 399 career games, he has just a .213 batting average. Rivera’s best year offensively came in San Diego in 2014 when he hit .252 with 11 homers and 44 RBI over 103 games. Last season with the Mets, Rivera hit .222 with six homers while driving in 26.

Let’s take a look at Rivera’s complete season in review and what to look forward to with him being back on a one-year deal.

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