By Jalon Dixon and Connor O’Chuida
At dusk on a pleasant April evening, pitcher Luis Rivera appears from the dugout, a vision in black and yellow, the colors of the Towson Tigers baseball team. In his uniform, adorned with the Tiger logo, he strides purposefully toward the mound. But before he steps onto the dirt, Rivera engages in a ritual as sacred as any pre-game tradition.
An hour before the game, Rivera begins to set the stage for what he hopes will be a strong outing for the Tigers. With his black hat pulled low, he begins his warm-up routine, as he does before every game, with each movement deliberate and calculated. He starts with a jog around the perimeter of the field, the rhythmic thud of his cleats against the grass setting the tempo for what’s to come. Next, he transitions into high knees, driving his legs upward with precision and focus. Then comes true form running, every step a testament to his athleticism and dedication.
As he moves through the motions, Rivera’s self-dialogue fills the air, a chorus of positive affirmations that echo in the silence of the stadium. “Get on the bump,” he whispers to himself, a mantra that grounds him in the present moment. “Live your pitch,” he repeats, each word a promise to give his all with every throw. And with each step, each stretch, each warm-up pitch, Rivera reaffirms his belief: “Nobody is better for this moment.”
“Those positive thoughts start to kick in as I’m starting to warm-up,” Rivera said. “And then when I get the opportunity to step on the bump, that’s where it kind of all goes blank. And all I’m thinking about is the pitch at the moment.”
Rivera prepares to take the mound. And as he does, he carries with him not just the weight of the game, but the power of his own conviction. As he approaches the final innings of his collegiate baseball career at Towson, he stands at a crossroads, shaped by the journey that brought him from the shores of Puerto Rico to the fields of the United States. While his love for his homeland stays unwavering, he recognizes that his aspirations extend beyond its borders.
Majoring in business administration with a concentration in international business, Rivera has thrived in his balancing act of playing the student-athlete role and is excited to soon hoist up his diploma. But with his sights set on the Double-A developmental league, he sees his journey in baseball as far from over.
Learning to love the game
Under the scorching Puerto Rican sun, Rivera wandered the streets, where the rhythms of life intermingled with the echoes of a timeless game. In every corner of the island, the spirit of baseball permeated the air, weaving its way into the very fabric of daily existence. From the bustling city squares to the serene coastal towns, the passion for the sport coursed through the veins of the community, a legacy spanning generations. For Rivera, born into this tapestry of tradition and pride, baseball wasn’t just a game, it was a birthright, an inheritance from a land where dreams took flight on the diamond.
“I feel like since I was born, my dad was praying that I became a baseball player,” Rivera said. “It’s a lifestyle down there [the islands]. It’s one of those things where since growing up you already have a bat and glove in the hand and you’re just trying to get better every single day.”
Growing up as a utility player, Rivera dabbled in various positions on the field, showcasing his versatility and adaptability. However, it was during his formative years, prior to entering high school, that he stumbled upon his true calling.
“As a kid I was always hitting, I was a utility player,” Rivera said. “Then when I hit around 15-years-old, I had a good outing. One time I was playing outfield in a tournament, and I had a good outing pitching in a semifinal. I really enjoyed myself out there. I really enjoyed just being able to honestly strike people out. And after that I went to a high school and other schools that were baseball schools where I focused a little bit more on just pitching. And since then, I don’t regret the decision.”
Rivera’s talent was clear early on. Competing at Notre Dame High School for his final three semesters, he left an indelible mark on the field, leading his team to a league title in 2019.
As a member of 7Baseball, a youth baseball organization based out of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, his dominance was undeniable. He had a 5-0 record with a 1.09 ERA and 41 strikeouts, and he was able to catapult his team to victory in the Matilde Porrata Pre-Season Tournament. In 2018, he reached new heights, guiding his team to a state title, Caribbean Zone Colt championship and Colt World Series Championship, compiling an impressive 4-0 record with a 1.83 ERA and 25 strikeouts along the way.
While still attending high school in Puerto Rico, his accolades extended beyond the diamond, as he also claimed victory in the Cal Ripken Experience Championship in 2017. Not content with excelling solely in baseball, Rivera displayed his athleticism by competing in the high jump and long jump as a member of the track team, leaving an enduring legacy of excellence in every endeavor he pursued.
“Since I was a kid, I played all the way down there on the island and I think it shaped me as I am today, the way I like to play the game,” he said. “It shaped my character as well. There were some really good coaches and really good players, and it got me to where I am today.”
A fork in the road
Rivera left behind the sun-soaked streets of Puerto Rico for the halls of La Salle University in Philadelphia, where he was awarded a baseball scholarship. Just as he was settling into the rhythm of collegiate baseball, La Salle dropped a bombshell: it was cutting the baseball program. Suddenly, Rivera found himself at a crossroads, searching for a new home that could satisfy both his hunger for the game and his thirst for knowledge.
Rivera transferred to Towson in 2021, considering it as a desirable destination after spending some time there when La Salle faced the Tigers in the 2020 baseball season.
“After the program got cut, I started looking for universities to go to,” Rivera said. “I had previously played Towson University when I was down at La Salle and I really enjoyed the campus and environment. And it was in my plans to do some research on the East Coast and Towson came up. I thought it was a great opportunity academically and athletically to come here.”
Rivera soon arrived on campus, but he faced another challenge: a nagging shoulder injury that threatened to sideline him. His first season with Towson saw him limited to just six games, relegated mostly to the bullpen. But Rivera refused to let setbacks define him. With grit and determination, he threw himself into rehab and conditioning, sculpting his body and his mind for the challenges ahead.
Returning to the mound in style
Spring training 2023 was Rivera’s chance to work his way back from injury. He was inspired by this new opportunity and wanted to give himself every advantage. He returned to the game healthier and stronger, giving him a new element to his power and speed on his pitch.
His coaches marveled at the transformation, crediting Towson’s strength and conditioning program for sculpting a lean, mean pitching machine.
“Being a pitcher, you’re forced to throw the baseball in an unorthodox movement,” head coach Matt Tyner said. “So, it puts a lot of stress on anybody’s arm. And as hard as he throws it, there’s probably some undue stress on there. Plus, he snaps off breaking balls all the time. So, there’s a lot of stress put on his arm. And he’s been sore some this year and was sore last year but was able to take a little bit of the tile off and then come back. So, I think that speaks volumes for his ability to get the proper rest and then work it back in.
“I think it speaks a lot in regard to our strength and conditioning program,” Tyner added. “You need weight in this particular game, you know? And of course, if you add it with strength, then it’s even double the pleasure. So yes, he’s been able to put some core strength in as well as add a little bit of weight, which has made him a little bit more durable.”
Making his mark with two starts among 19 appearances, Rivera proved himself a force to be reckoned with, finishing the season with a 4-2 record and a 7.20 ERA while tallying 33 strikeouts over 35 innings pitched.
But it wasn’t just the numbers that spoke volumes—it was the moments that defined his season. On February 26, 2022, in a showdown against Binghamton University, Rivera notched his first Towson win of his career, allowing just one earned run on three hits over three innings of work. And amidst the whirlwind of athletic achievement, he remained steadfast in his commitment to academic excellence, earning a well-deserved place on the CAA Academic Honor Roll—a testament to his dedication both on and off the field.
“Over the years of my coaching that spans 20 years, he’s been the one of the most constant consummate pros,” Tyner said. “And I’ve never had to worry about a thing with him You know, it’s just he’s just that guy. So, whoever gets this guy, either in pro ball or as an employee, you’re going to get a top-shelf dude. There’s nothing wrong with that anymore. They’re becoming harder and harder to find.”
The road ahead
As Rivera looks to the future, his sights set on the Double-A Developmental League, one thing is clear: his journey is far from over. With every pitch, he inches closer to his dream, a testament to the resilience and passion that define him.
“While these last couple of months has been a rollercoaster, college baseball has been a dream since I was a kid,” Rivera said. “Given the opportunity to come play Division I baseball has been nothing but a great achievement of my life. I feel like right now, I’m still looking for opportunities to maybe play professional ball if given the opportunity.
“It’s a beautiful game and I want to continue to play it as long as I can,” he added. “Continue to make some pitches and continue to chase that emotion, that adrenaline that comes from delivering a pitch and getting in those innings.”