Move to 'pen helping Rivera III blossom

Rivera Jr. on going pro 1:34 Nationals prospect Mariano Rivera Jr. talks about getting a chance to play professional baseball and how much fun the experience has been Players with baseball pedigrees are drafted each year. It usually occurs in the later rounds, when teams can comfortably pay homage to former players without sacrificing a potentially valuable pick.

So when the Yankees selected Mariano Rivera's son, Mariano Rivera III (who goes by the name Rivera Jr.), in the 29th round of the 2014 Draft, it was fair to assume the franchise was merely honoring its legendary closer, who had retired following the '13 season.

Rivera, however, chose to return to Iona College rather than sign with…