Fans of the Boston Red Sox were likely excited to see so many players on the roster get a chance to shine in the World Baseball Classic.
The stars were out, with Roman Anthony and Garrett Whitlock playing for the USA, Ceddanne Rafaela playing for the Netherlands, Wilyer Abreu, Willson Contreras, and Ranger Suárez teaming up for Venezuela, Masataka Yoshida taking up his usual spot for Japan, Jarren Duran becoming a star for Mexico, Brayan Bello pitching for the Dominican Republic, and more.
One of the most exciting Red Sox players in the WBC hasn’t been any of those big names, though. A pitching prospect who came into 2025 with virtually zero hype built himself up through a strong season, made the team for Puerto Rico, and dominated in the tournament. How has this set Eduardo Rivera up for massive success in 2026?
Rivera appeared in two games for Puerto Rico during their WBC run. The left-handed pitcher first went 4 1/3 innings in pool play against Panama. He allowed one run on one hit and one walk, while striking out five batters.
Red Sox pitching prospect Eduardo Rivera uses dominant WBC run as table-setter for 2026 season
He then pitched in Puerto Rico’s quarterfinal loss to Italy. Rivera did allow two runs on one hit and three walks over 2 1/3 innings. However, he also struck out four batters and got out of a massive jam to keep Puerto Rico within striking distance.
We got to see Rivera showcase his strong fastball in the tournament. In his final appearance, all 29 pitches he threw were fastballs, with the lefty topping out at 98.1 MPH. With his size (6’7”, 237 lbs) and fantastic extension, that 98.1 is terrifying for opposing hitters.
With the team’s run over, Rivera heads back to camp with a bigger spotlight on him this year — one that should see him pitch in Triple-A at the very least.
Rivera started the 2025 season as a relative unknown in High-A. He posted a 1.61 ERA, .138 BAA, and 0.83 WHIP in 10 appearances (six starts). Over 44 2/3 innings in Greenville, he racked up 68 strikeouts compared to 16 walks.
Rivera didn’t dominate to the same level after being promoted to Double-A, but there was still plenty to be excited about. He posted a 3.40 ERA, .214 BAA, and 1.51 WHIP in 10 appearances (nine starts). Rivera struck out 40 batters but walked 30 in 42 1/3 innings.
The 2025 season was the first big breakout of Rivera’s career. Now, he’s gotten a chance to prove himself on a massive stage thanks to the WBC. That sets him up perfectly for big things in 2026.
The 22-year-old has some experience in Double-A (where he’ll likely start the year). He took major steps forward last year and had an offseason to build on them, and now he got to pitch on the biggest stage against elite talent.
Rivera will now be a prospect fans are looking forward to watching. Make sure to keep an eye out for him in Double-A and (likely) Triple-A this season. With his natural talent, hard work, and now legitimate experience, we could see another big boost for the Puerto Rican star in 2026.