Emmanuel Rivera #26

Began playing baseball at age four and credits his father for introducing him to the game and teaching him everything he knows…played shortstop throughout his amateur career until he signed with the Royals and was transitioned to third base...Was given the nickname "El Pulpo" (The Octopus) as a youngster thanks to his defensive skills…his father, Miguel, who played locally as an amateur in Puerto Rico, was also nicknamed "El Pulpo...Stepped foot in his first Major League stadium as a child while competing in a youth tournament held at Wrigley Field…in 2021, he hit his first big league home run with Kansas City at Wrigley Field...Grew up a Derek Jeter fan due to him playing shortstop throughout his amateur career and the immense popularity of the Yankees in his native Puerto Rico...Has played eight seasons with his hometown club, Mayaguez, in the Puerto Rican Winter League since 2016...Represented Puerto Rico for the fourth straight year in the 2024 Caribbean Series hosted in Miami...Also competed in the Caribbean Series in 2021 (Mazatlán, Mexico), 2022 (Santo Domingo, D.R.) and 2023 (Venezuela).

2023

In his second season with Arizona, hit .261 (67-for-257) with 13 doubles, four homers, 29 RBI and 22 walks over 83 games...Made his season debut with the D-backs on April 25 vs. Royals...Hit .379 (11-for-29)/.921 OPS with three doubles and five RBI in eight games at DH...In his first 22 starts, batted .382 (34-for-89)/.932 OPS with nine doubles, one homer and 14 RBI...Ranked fifth in the Majors among third baseman with a .295 average with runners in scoring position [min. 85 games]...Hit in 5+ consecutive games in four separate spans during the season...Hit .330 (37-for-112)/.994 OPS with nine doubles, three triples, five home runs and 25 RBI in 28 games over two stints with Triple-A Reno.

POSTSEASON: In 13 games (four starts), hit .235 (4-for-17) with one double, three RBI and one walk.

WBC: Selected to play for Team Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and helped lead the team to the Quarterfinals…hit .278 (5-for-18) with one triple and five RBI in five games.

2022

Batted .227 (30-for-132) with eight doubles, six home runs and 18 RBI over 39 games with Arizona...Recorded a hit in eight of his first nine games with the D-backs, batting .355 (11- for-31)/1.268 OPS with three doubles, four home runs and six RBI...Had his first-career multi-homer game on Aug. 13 @ Rockies…tied a single-game career high with three hits (Aug. 11 vs. Pirates and Sept. 2 vs. Brewers)...Acquired from the Royals for RHP Luke Weaver on Aug. 1...Ended the season with a 41-game errorless streak since July 12…committed just four errors in 85 games at third base, tied for fewest at that position in MLB (also: Jace Peterson/MIL) [min. 80 G]...Hit .237 (47-for-198) with eight doubles, three triples, six homers and 22 RBI in 63 games over two stints with the Royals…began the season with Triple-A Omaha and appeared in 20 games...Placed on 60-day injured list (fractured left wrist) from Oct. 2-end of season.

2021

Appeared in 29 games for the Royals in his first big league season, making starts at third base (26) and first base (1)...Made his Major League debut June 28 in Boston as the starting third baseman, and singled on the first pitch he saw from Garrett Richards...he singled off Richards again in the third inning to become the fourth Royals player to record a hit in each of his first two plate appearances of his MLB debut, joining Irving Falu (May 6, 2012, vs. the Yankees), Don Slaught (July 6, 1982, vs. Boston) and Fred Rico (Sept. 1, 1969-G1 vs. Detroit)...He was one of 12 players in the Majors to record a multi-hit game in his debut, joining (among others) Kyle Isbel (Opening Day vs. Texas)...Became the first non-Red Sox player to record his first career hit at Fenway Park since Tommy La Stella on May 28, 2014 with Atlanta...He connected for his first home run in the fifth inning on Aug. 20 off the Cubs Zach Davies, becoming the first Royal to hit his first big league homer at Wrigley Field...According to Elias, he’s the first player in history to record his first hit at Fenway Park and his first home run at Wrigley Field in the same season, and he’s the third do to it overall, joining Joe Azcue (hit in 1960 and HR in 1962) and Tim Blackwell (hit in 1974 and HR in 1980)...Reached base safely in 14 straight games from Aug 15-31, marking his longest run of the season...in that stretch, he batted .292/.370/.396 (14-for-48) with three extra-base hits (2 doubles, 1 home run), while also drawing six walks, after walking just twice in his first 11 games...Placed on the 10-day Injured List on June 30 with a left hamate fracture and missed 27 games before being reinstated on Aug. 4...Appeared in 63 games with Triple-A Omaha and four games with Double-A Northwest Arkansas around his big-league stints...batted .285 (77-for-270) in the minors with 38 extra-base hits (17 doubles, 2 triples, 19 homers), along with 58 RBI, 49 runs scored and 24 walks (.347 OBP).

2020

Participated in the Royals’ postseason camp at Kauffman Stadium... A non-roster invitee to Major League Spring Training… appeared in six Cactus League games, going 1-for-9... Played for Indios de Mayaguez in the Puerto Rican Winter League, batting .292 (19-for-65) with six doubles, three homers and 12 runs scored in 17 games… also played in four games for Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series. 

2019

Spent the entire year with Northwest Arkansas (AA), leading the Texas League in games played (131) and ranking sixth in hits (128)…made 117 starts at third base...Slashed .337/.379/.461 (30-for-89) with five doubles, two homers and 15 RBI vs. left-handed pitching...Collected a   career-high five RBI twice: April 29 at Midland and June 19 vs. Amarillo…in the June 19 contest, also matched a career-best with four hits, going 4-for-5 with a three-run homer...Played in 31 games for Indios de Mayaguez in the Puerto Rican Winter League…slashed .309/.353/.439 (38-for-123) with eight extra-base hits and 14 RBI.

2018

Spent a majority of the year with Wilmington (A+), but missed five weeks of action (May 28-July 6) with an oblique injury…played in seven games with Surprise (Rookie) as part of a rehab assignment...Among qualifying Carolina League hitters, his .280 average (105-for-375) ranked ninth.

2017

Named Lexington Player of the Year, leading the South Atlantic League in batting average (.310) and hits (144)… also ranked fifth in on-base   percentage (.364) and slugging percentage (.468)...Tabbed a postseason All-Star by the SAL and an Organization All-Star by MiLB.com...Set career highs with 27 doubles, 12 homers and his teamleading 72 RBI, which were third most by a Royals minor league player...Slashed .322/.384/.480 (73-for-227) with 17 doubles, two triples, five homers and 34 RBI after the All-Star break.

2016

Named Puerto Rican Winter League Rookie of the Year and an All-Star…led the league in on-base percentage (.393), ranked second in batting average (.330) and fifth in slugging (.413).