Former Mets Prospect: Nikco Riesgo (1990)

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Damon Nikco Riesgo was Born on January 11, 1967 in Long Beach, California. The six foot two inch outfielder was a star player at the University of San Diego getting picked in the 8th round off the 1988 draft, by the home town Padres. In 1990 he was traded to the New York Mets organization where he became a sat with the St. Lucie Mets.

He was the 1990 Florida State League MVP, leading the league with 94 RBIs, 219 total bases & 35 doubles. He stole 46 stolen bases and was second in the league with 14 HRs.

That August he was traded to the Phillies in the deal that got Tommy Herr to the New York Mets. This was another Mets debacle as Herr, an All Star Met killer back in 1985, only played in 27 games batting .250 with 1 HR & 10 RBIs in 1990. In 1991 he was terrible, only hitting .194 in 70 games before getting released & having Greg Jeffries take over second base.


The Phillies didn’t put Riesgo on their roster in 1990 & he was taken Rule V by the Montreal Expos. In 1991 he made his MLB debut at Stade Olympique against Frank Viola & the Mets. He went 1-3 that day, getting a hit in his second at bat.

What was once a promising career ended after just four games with that lone base hit & a .143 batting average.

He went to the minors & never cracked the majors again, not even making it as a replacement player during the 1995 strike.

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