The Yankees announced Saturday that draft pick Mariano Rivera Jr., the son of their retired legendary closer, did not sign a contract before Friday's deadline.
The team had selected Rivera Jr., a righthander from Iona College, in the 29th round of the June amateur draft. Rivera Jr. has decided he will return to school for his junior year.
The Yankees did sign 27 of the 38 other players they took in the Major League Baseball first-year player draft.
"He just wanted to continue where he's at currently," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "It's not something that he wants to pursue just yet. I think Mariano and the family feel like some more seasoning in the college ranks will benefit him more."
As a sophomore, Rivera Jr. was 2-6 with a 5.40 ERA in 13 games. He struck out 50 in 70 innings.
"He wasn't a courtesy draft," Cashman said about the storybook family connection. "We would have signed him if he had the interest in starting his pro career now."
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