Bio

Jerryell Rivera is one of the only players entering Owlz spring training to play affiliated baseball. Half of those games came in an (old) Owlz uniform.

The Angels selected a lanky, left-handed 18-year-old Puerto Rican pitcher in the 11th round of 2017's MLB Draft. After just eight games in the Arizona League that year, he opened up '18 with Orem and pitched nine innings worth of Owlz baseball that year.

In '19, his second season in Orem, Rivera really came into his own.

"I was being me," he said, "and I knew I was a better player already."

He was, too. Rivera fanned 31 hitters compared to 22 the entire season prior. Opposing batting average dropped down more than 100 points. He earned his first win in almost two years in dominating fashion.

All of that, plus experience from several seasons of winter league ball in Puerto Rico, vaulted him to a Single-A stint with Inland Empire by '21. He went back to a reliever role for those 10 games, finishing four of them and striking out 13 guys across 12.1 innings.  

But the organization released Rivera in August, making those his last professional innings. That is, until the Owlz gave him another chance. With it, he's had a chance to reflect on his Inland Empire experience.

"I felt like it was my best year," Rivera said. "Physically and mentally, I was ready to go. I was cruising. I just had one bad outing that just ruined my numbers, but I don't mind that. That was the best I've felt physically. I was in my prime."

Remember, Rivera was only 21 at the time. He just turned 23, so it seems like there's lots of time to still see his prime.

Regardless, Rivera's got prime confidence in himself, and he's got a message for Owlz fans.

"You guys can be confident about me."