Andy Reviera
A 1999 film For Love of the Game starring Kevin Costner in many ways might remind some of the struggles of Lee University right-handed pitcher Andy Riviera. He became tremendously interested in a baseball career during his junior year of high school at Westwood Christian in Miami, Florida. After five surgeries and four different colleges Riviera continues to push forward and is determined to toe the rubber for one more season.
"Every kid's dream is to make it to the bigs (league).
I know that sounds really cliché, but it is the truth. But sometimes things do not go as planned. Coming out of high school, I had the chance to sign as a free agent with the (Miami) Marlins. My parents (father Pablo and mother Mayra) told me it was my decision. I knew they would support me in whatever decision I made. It was my goal to play pro-ball, but I also knew it would be a great achievement to receive a college degree. Especially, since my brother and I would have been the first in our family tree to do so. I took the college route," explained Andy.
First stop Wabash Valley (Mount Carmel, Illinois) 2014-2015
Wabash was Andy's first stop and his first college surgery. He was hoping it would be the final surgery of his college career. "I had a screw placed in my elbow due to having a small fracture causing constant pain," he noted. "Wabash Valley taught me a lot. The staff taught me to be mature and man up quickly. I did not have anyone (for me) there. I battled through recovery pretty much but at the end (of the season), the coaches weren't satisfied with my performances, so I decided to transfer."
Second stop Chattanooga State, 2015-2017
Andy said the entire summer before going to Chattanooga State he struggled to find a school. He sent out emails and nothing would appear in his inbox. "I did not have (eye-catching) numbers from Wabash that would interest college coaches." Finally, his high school coach called one day and said, "Hey Andy there is this coach in Tennessee that is looking for pitchers. He wants you to come up for a tryout and he'll make an offer in the spot."
"We drove 12 hours (from Miami to Chattanooga) and I threw a bullpen session for Coach Greg Dennis. I was running on about three hours of sleep during that time. Coach Dennis was content with my abilities and I became a Tiger that same day," Andy said as he remembered the long day.
He was fully healthy his first season in Chattanooga, but his pitching velocity was not there. "I had posted a decent year with a 5-4 record, 63 innings pitched, and my strike outs were at 65 with only 21 walks. I was finding my way back until the end of the season when I discovered what was going wrong," he confessed.
The summer before entering his second year at Chattanooga State, Andy was working on his craft during a bullpen session and suffered an injury that required his second surgery. His knee popped and curled. He ended up tearing the meniscus on his right knee.
Automatically he had to call Coach Dennis and tell him. Coach said, "Don't worry, get back healthy, I am here for you. I'm going to need you during the season."
Andy said he worked as hard as he could and was unbelievably able to run his fastball up to 94 MPH, which he said had never happened before. "For precaution, I was the team's closer the entire year. At the same time, I was worried about what school I was going to next. I started emailing schools all over the country. As the year was coming to an end, I began receiving calls from pro teams asking me to enter the 2017 draft. My dream of becoming a pro ballplayer was getting close once again, but after a long talk with Coach Dennis and my family, I knew attending Middle Tennessee State the following fall was the best decision," he declared.
On to MTSU, 2017-2019
Andy said attending MTSU was a great decision because he became a better player and person overall. "Coach (Jim) McGuire, (Tim) Donnelly and (Caleb) Longshore took me in with open arms. They made that place feel like home, along with my teammates. For me that was the year. It was the year I was supposed to be the guy (on the pitching staff). The year I was supposed to be drafted. The year for everyone in my corner to see what I was made off. I was coming off a good summer. Building a name for myself and hoping I was a one-year and done-guy at MTSU," he proclaimed
After his first start as a Blue Raider, he began experiencing cold sweats, lack of arm and body strength, and daily dizziness. "Turns out I had a blood clot in my arm since the beginning of the spring semester. I was not only physically hurt, but mentally broken for a couple months. I had the blood clot removed by Vanderbilt University on Feb. 5, 2018. My dream was shattered, but I knew God had a plan for me," Andy said as he stood firmly in his beliefs.
"The next year, with the same mentality and an even better pitching craft and with the support from my teammates, family and coaches, I got up on my feet and was ready to roll for MTSU on opening day. But on Oct. 4, 2018, I was experiencing the same symptoms as before and was scared." He said he knew for sure he was done. "The following day my (right) wing was opened once again by Vanderbilt University and I had the same surgery I had encountered eight months before," he pointed out. "After a full recovery and what should have been a season-ending surgery, I was able to come back in March and pitch against Lipscomb. I begged my trainer and (new head coach) Jim Toman to put me; "Coach," I recall saying. "I'm ready, put me in. I am ready! The entire year I finished as a reliever and pitched five scoreless outings, after my first one against Lipscomb.
Lee 2019-2020 until present
After a crazy five years of baseball, Andy realized he might be granted one more year of eligibility. "I wanted to stay in Tennessee because I consider this place home. I had reached my adulthood here. During the summer before coming to Lee, I was in the process, all over again, of emailing to schools, and I got in contact with Coach Brew. He was interested off the bat, but the only thing was getting a sixth year is very hard, especially that I now had a degree. It was a long process getting me to have a sixth year because you do not see that very often. I was basically the grandpa of the team."
Coach Brew noted that Andy had to get a sixth-year waiver this past season to even play. "The NCAA only gives you 10 semesters of school (five years to play four years of college). Andy had to appeal to the NCAA to be granted a waiver and extension to even be able to play another year. I have probably seen just a handful of players get a sixth year."
Andy admits coming to Lee was honestly a better decision than going to MTSU; "because everyone I met on campus, I felt like I could see myself in them and they could see themselves in me. It is like I was bound to come to Lee."
He spent the entire fall fighting for a spot on the pitching staff as he had usually done in past years. "Coach Brew and (pitching coach Richie) Goodenow wanted me to become the team's closer. On Nov. 2, 2019 I thought it was all over again. I tore my Achilles on conditioning day. I was for sure done with everything. All I can remember is Coach Brew coming up to me and saying, "you are going to be OK. We got you here."
Andy still figured his career was over, but there was hope. The surgeon, Dr. Jason Spangler, told me; "You will need a miracle to get back before the season ends, but it depends on you. I spent countless hours rehabbing (with Lee trainer Dan Heinbaugh), getting back in shape as fast as I could. With the help of the coaches, my family, and my best friends, I did the impossible and made it back within 3 ½ months. I was supposed to be done, but I knew my story was not over. It still isn't over," he said proudly.
Sadly the 2020 season was cut short because of the pandemic. Andy made his only appearance on the mound during the game against Young Harris when all tournament play was suspended for the year by the NCAA and the GSC later decided to halt all conference play. Could this have been a blessing Andy was seeking?
Coach Brew explained, "The waiver this past season (2020) from the NCAA was automatic due to the season being cancelled. Every player that participated in a game got the year back. Andy fell into that category due to the one game he pitched after returning from his Achilles injury. If he had not pitched in that game, our compliance office led by Jessica McIntyre (who submitted a waiver request for a sixth year of eligibility on Andy's behalf which was granted by the NCAA), Jessica would have had to request a seventh year and I am not sure if it would have been granted. It is an amazing thing (God thing) in my opinion that he threw in the game before the season was cancelled," said Brew. "If he does not pitch, there may be a seventh-year story but I have never seen a college athlete pitch in a seventh year," said McIntyre.
"I do not know what the future holds, but for the seniors coming back, we still have one more year to bring home the gold. I am going to be healthy and ready, and I know our team will be ready to roll when opening day comes," Andy said as he prepares to add an extension to For Love of the Game.
Coach Brew said in closing, "Andy is a tremendous young man who has overcome as much-repeated adversity as I have seen in an athletes' career. At every stop it would have been easy for him to hang up his spikes, but Andy has been relentless and passionate about playing the game he loves. He has rehabbed and recovered again and again and when at the top of his game he can be dominant on the mound. He is an awesome teammate and his energy despite his continued adversity is admirable. Many would just quit, but Andy just continues to pick himself up and jumps right back into the fire. I am praying and expecting this last year (2020-21) to be his healthiest and best. Andy will be able to look back and be proud of all he has overcome to finish his career on top."