Stephen Rivera arrives in North Adams this summer looking to replicate the success he had in summer baseball a year ago. Rivera adds versatility to the SteepleCats pitching staff with experience pitching out of the bullpen at St. John’s and as a starter last summer. 

Last summer, Rivera pitched for the Winchester Royals of the Valley Baseball League. Rivera went 4-1 with a 3.93 ERA in 11 appearances and seven starts. He pitched 52 2/3 innings, tossed two complete games and struck out 56 batters while walking just 14. Rivera was tied for the league lead in batters struck out looking with 22 and held opponents to a .227 batting average, fourth-lowest in the league.

As a freshman in 2009, Rivera went 2-3 in 14 appearances and 2 starts, striking out 27 batters in 33 1/3 innings of work.

Rivera attended Monsignor Farrell High School in Staten Island, N.Y. At Monsignor Farrell, Rivera was a three-time letter winner in baseball and a two-time letter winner in basketball.