It was announced yesterday that Shawn Riggans agreed to a minor league contract with the New York Mets with a non-roster invitation to spring training thus ending the Riggans era with the Rays.
Riggans came to the Devil Rays organization in 2000 when they selected him in the 24th round of the amateur draft out of Indian River Community College.
He spent 9 years in the Rays system and spent the entire 2008 American League Pennant winning season in Tampa Bay. Although he didn’t see any action, he was on the postseason roster for the duration of the playoffs in ’08.
Riggans should have a legitimate shot to make the Mets roster as a backup (or starting) catcher, corner outfielder, first baseman and pinch hitter.
Riggans rose on the prospect charts when he hit .310 for the AA Montgomery Biscuits in 2005. He has long been regarded the Rays’ catcher of the future and would have had a chance in 2009 had a shoulder injury not derailed his season.
The health of his throwing arm has been the one thing to hold him back. He is above average defensively behind the plate and has the athletism to play other positions. A career .287 batter, he has shown flair at the plate in the minor leagues.
He was a solid player for the Rays system, a class act on the field and in the clubhouse and a great ray of hope for the future.
I wish him the best of luck in New York and in the future. Mets fans, you can look forward to a hard-working, fan friendly, hard hustling player. Go Riggans! Go Rays! Troll out.
Shawn seemed like a good guy whenever the Rays came to Kansas City. He would sign for anyone who wanted his autograph. Unfortunately, it seems I never had a card of him when he was in town.
ReplyDeleteI wish him the best of luck with the Mets.