Washington’s Nationals placed veteran catcher René Rivera on the 10-Day IL on August 3rd, (retroactive to Aug. 2) with a right elbow contusion, but instead of calling up new backstop Keibert Ruiz, (the top prospect in the organization once he was acquired in the 4 for-2 trade that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers), they opted to call up a catcher they acquired from Toronto’s Blue Jays at the 2021 trade deadline in return for left-handed closer Brad Hand: Riley Adams.
“We wanted to get Riley up here, let Keibert play every day for now,” Nats’ manager Davey Martinez explained after he roster moves were announced.