Red Sox 6-foot-7, 275-pound call-up ‘opened’ Fenway Park this morning; ‘I couldn’t wait’

He said his dad, Eduardo, was the first person he called when he was promoted to Worcester and again when he was promoted to Boston. His dad — who had a big impact on his baseball career and took him to his games as a kid — is flying in from Puerto Rico for Wednesday night’s game.

“I can’t wait to see him in a couple hours,” Rivera said. “He’s going to be here. So I’m very excited to share this moment with him.”

His wife and brother will also be in attendance. Rivera also has some unexpected guests coming to support him.

“There is also a family that I met in Puerto Rico because of a dog so they’re also coming here,” Rivera said.

Rivera elaborated.

“He’s a bat dog back (with) the team where I play in Winter League in Puerto Rico,” Rivera said. “We got close to the hosting family and every time I’m very stressed or whatnot, the dog ... will calm me down. So for them to be here is very nice.”

Rivera relies heavily on his four-seam fastball.

“I’m always attacking the hitter. I also let the catcher dictate what we’re gonna throw,” he said. “If we see that the batter is behind, we just go ahead and attack him with a fastball. If we see that he’s swinging a lot, we just try to attack him with the splitter or any other breaking pitch.”

He watched Red Sox-Yankees games growing up. Now he might have a chance to start against them Thursday.

“It’s very exciting,” he said. “Since I was a little kid, I used to watch their games, the Red Sox and the Yankees. My favorite position player is David Ortiz and then the other side you have players like Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez. So for me to be here is very exciting.”

Rivera is available as a long reliever out of the bullpen Wednesday.

“Where we have right now, pitching wise, he can give his innings in the bullpen or we can use him as a situational lefty so we’ll see how it plays out,” Cora said.

More Red Sox coverage

• As Red Sox shuffle rotation plan, top prospect likely to face Yankees on Thursday
• Roman Anthony injury: Boston Red Sox star not in lineup with sore/tight back
• Alex Cora shakes up Red Sox lineup with new leadoff hitter, no Roman Anthony vs. Yankees
• Ex-Red Sox starter’s free agency ends, signs deal with pitcher-needy NL Team
• Red Sox-Yankees rivalry’s intensity ‘heading in the right direction,’ says Cam Schlittler

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