Chris Rivera, who was selected to the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft and number the 215 overall, returned to his former Centralia Elementary School to speak to students during a Motivational Assembly on December 3.
More than 115students attended including Centralia Principal Richard Mojarro and Centralia School District Superintendent Diane Scheerhorn.
Chris Rivera, who was selected to the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft and number the 215 overall, returned to his former Centralia Elementary School to speak to students during a Motivational Assembly on December 3.
More than 115students attended including Centralia Principal Richard Mojarro and Centralia School District Superintendent Diane Scheerhorn.
Rivera spoke to students about working hard both on and off the field, respecting others, the importance of staying in school, to never give up on your dreams, what it was like being in the MLB draft and being a part of the St. Louis Cardinals organization followed by a Q&A session.
After the assembly, Rivera took to the field to teach students the fundamentals of baseball.
Tracey Heidner, Rivera’s sixth grade teacher at Centralia, coordinated the assembly. “We were so excited to have Christopher return to Centralia,” Heidner said. “The students brought cameras to take pictures with him and gloves to play catch after the assembly. I know I speak for the other teachers and staff about how proud we are of Christopher. He is a positive role model in this community.”
Rivera began playing baseball at four starting with the Angels Rookie T-Ball team at age five then went on to play in the Buena Park American Little League until age 12. Rivera also played travel baseball with the Placentia Mustangs from age 9 to 17; with the Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team from age 14 to 17; and the Yankees Scout Team from age 15 to 17.
Rivera was named to the 14U USA Baseball Team where they competed in Guatemala and won the Gold. He was the youngest player at age 14 named to the 16U USA Baseball Team where they competed in Taiwan and won the Gold. He also played on his second 14U USA Baseball Team where they won the Gold in Ecuador.
In 2012, Rivera was named to the Perfect Game All-American Team held at Petco Park in San Diego, Calif. He was also named to Baseball Factory’s All America Team held at Wrigley Field, Chicago, Ill.
Also in 2012, Rivera played on the YAK Baseball West team and competed in the PGA World Wood Bat Association (WWBA) World Championship in Jupiter, Fla. and the PG/EvoShield National Championship (Upperclassmen) in Phoenix, Ariz.
In 2011, he joined the Marucci Elite team and competed in the PGA WWBA Championship in Jupiter, Fla. and then again in 2010 at Marietta, Ga. Rivera participated in the Area Code Games in 2011 and 2012. In 2012, Rivera participated in the prestigious National Showcase held in Minneapolis, Minn.
Rivera was a four-year varsity baseball player at El Dorado High School. In 2011, 2012 and 2013, Rivera, was named to the National Classics All-Tournament Team. This year, he came in second place in the National Classic Homerun Derby. Recently, he was name to the All-Orange County All-Star Team and the Ryan Lemmon Foundation All-Star Team where he represented the Century League in the Homerun Derby.
Rivera was committed to Central Arizona College before being selected by the St. Louis Cardinals on June 7.
