Ole Miss LHP Xavier Rivas will begin his road to recovery and the start of his pro career with the New York Yankees organization…
Earlier this week, seven players from Ole Miss were chosen in this year’s MLB Draft, with six selected on the final day. One of those six was left-handed pitcher Xavier Rivas. Standing at 6-foot-4, Rivas was picked by the New York Yankees in the 16th round, 481st overall. After a period of speculation, Rivas confirmed on Friday that he has signed his professional contract with the Yankees, valued at approximately $150,000.
Earlier indications had suggested Rivas was leaning towards turning pro. Now, attention turns to Hunter Elliott, another lefty from Ole Miss drafted by the Dodgers in the draft’s concluding round, as the university eagerly awaits his decision on whether to go pro or return to school.
Rivas suffered a UCL injury in February, just before the start of Ole Miss’ 2024 season, and subsequently underwent Tommy John Surgery. This injury caused him to miss his entire senior season, although he had shown promise in 2023 after transferring from Indianapolis.
During his lone season with the Rebels as a junior in 2023, Rivas appeared in 14 games as a starter, leading the team with 89 strikeouts and five wins. He held opponents to a .248 batting average over 68.0 innings pitched, culminating in a career-high 12 strikeouts against Alabama in May 2023.
In an exclusive interview earlier this month, Rivas spoke about his future aspirations, noting his preference for a favorable draft situation and a chance to pursue professional baseball. His ideal scenario seems to have materialized with the Yankees.
Prior to the draft, Rivas had garnered interest from several teams including the Pirates, Brewers, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Phillies, Mets, and Yankees.
Recently, Rivas underwent a progress check in Dallas, five months post-surgery on his left arm. He’s gradually resuming throwing activities and remains optimistic about his recovery.
