VIERA, FL - Upon completion of a physical at the Washington Nationals Training Center, Iona College baseball alum Mariano Rivera signed a professional contract to play for the club on Tuesday. Selected in the fourth round by the Nationals on Jun. 9, Rivera is expected to make his pro debut with the Auburn Doubledays of the New York Penn League, located in Auburn, NY.
Rivera was selected with the 134th pick in the draft and became the fourth highest pick in the history of the program. He named the 2015 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year on May 19. Rivera was also named to the All-MAAC First Team and led the MAAC in strikeouts during the 2015 season recording an Iona single-season record 113. He posted a dominating 11.96 strikeout per game mark and 12.87 strikeouts per game in conference play. The right hander earned five wins and a 2.65 ERA and while his ERA in MAAC play was a stingy 1.81.