Jeremy Rivas Named Minor League Player of the Day

The Cardinal Chronicle
Jeremy Rivas Named Minor League Player of the Day
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Jeremy Rivas did more than extend a hitting streak Wednesday afternoon — he changed the game.

The Springfield Cardinals infielder delivered the biggest swing in the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system, belting a three-run, go-ahead home run in the fifth inning to help Springfield rally past the Tulsa Drillers, 9-5, at ONEOK Field.
For that performance, Rivas is The Cardinal Chronicle's Minor League Player of the Day.

Rivas finished 2-for-5, but the line only tells part of the story. Springfield was in a fight on the road, and the fifth inning became the turning point. Chase Davis had already tied the game earlier in the frame with a two-run homer, his team-leading sixth of the season. Then, Rivas stepped in and gave the Cardinals the swing that put them in front for good.

That is the kind of at-bat that separates a good day from a winning day.

Rivas' homer also came in the middle of one of the best stretches of his season. With the two-hit effort, he extended his hitting streak to 10 games, the longest active hitting streak in the Texas League.

That matters. A hot night is one thing. A 10-game streak is a player showing up day after day, making adjustments, putting the ball in play and giving his club something steady in the lineup.

Springfield has needed that kind of consistency. The Cardinals have now won four straight games, matching their longest winning streak of the season, and are 7-2 over their last nine. A club that spent much of the early season trying to find traction is now beginning to look more settled, more dangerous and more confident.

Rivas has been part of that turnaround.

There were strong candidates Wednesday. Chase Davis made it a close call with a 3-for-4 afternoon, a home run, three RBIs and a walk. Michael Dattalo also deserved mention after going 3-for-3 with a double in his return from the injured list for Palm Beach.

But Rivas delivered the swing that turned Springfield's afternoon, kept his hitting streak alive and helped push the Cardinals' hottest affiliate another step forward.
That earns the nod.

The Minor League Player of the Day: Jeremy Rivas, INF, Springfield Cardinals.

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports
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