Facing a tough hitter in a key spot in the game, San Jacinto College North hurler Oscar Rivas agreed with his catcher and threw a changeup, leading to a Junior College World Series game-ending fly out, The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel wrote.
"It took a lot of guts to throw that pitch in that situation to a great player like Hanks," San Jacinto head coach Wayne Graham told The Daily Sentinel. "But Oscar is that type of player."
Rivas eventually took those guts on to a stint in the pros. He saw three seasons. He topped out at high-A.
Rivas' pro career began in 1989, taken by the Mariners in the 17th round of the draft out of San Jacinto.
At San Jacinto in 1987, Rivas spoke to The Daily Sentinel about keeping his cool after he pitched out of three jams in the National Junior College Baseball World Series title game.
"It's just one of my things, I don't worry about things," Rivas told The Daily Sentinel. "I just try to do my best."
Rivas started with the Mariners between short-season Bellingham and single-A San Bernardino. He went 5-1, with a 1.21 ERA between them in 24 relief outings.
He moved to high-A Peninsula for 1990. He went 1-3 over 34 relief outings, with five saves and a 4.46 ERA.
He played 1991 at high-A San Bernardino. That May, The San Bernardino County Sun featured Rivas and noted his height.
"I've noticed a lot of people are really rooting for me," Rivas told The Sun. "I guess because I am shorter and most people expect this big 5-10 or plus pitcher and here they're seeing a 5-7 pitcher. I guess I do pick up more people rooting for me which is good because I really like that."
Rivas saw 62 relief appearances that year. He went 7-5, with a 4.17 ERA and picked up three saves. That season proved his last as a pro.
- Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, May 31, 1987: Rivas cool under pressure
- Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, June 4, 1988: 'Little Fernando' silences S. Idaho
- San Bernardino County Sun, May 17, 1991: Pitcher not short on talent
Made the Majors:1,378-32.9%
Never Made Majors:2,812-67.1%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:560
10+ Seasons in the Minors:344
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