Rijo would have five operations before returning to the mound for the Reds late in the 2001 season, he pitched 13 games for the Reds in '01, and went 5-4 for the Reds in 2002 pitching in 31 games including starting the final game at Cinergy Field,
Rijo was the M.V.P of the 1990 World Series beating the A's twice, in what would be a four game sweep by the Reds,
this season will mark the first time in 16 seasons that Rijo has not been on the Reds roster, or at least in camp, he was non-roster invitee the past two seasons, Rijo came up to the Big Leagues in 1984 as a member of the New York Yankees, was part of the trade that sent Ricky Henderson to the Yankees in before the 1985 season, and spent 3 seasons with A's before joining the Reds, Rijo was on the fast track to a great career, had he not missed 5 full seasons, and parts of 2 more, who knows what kind of numbers he would have put up, we may even have viewed him amongst the best pitchers in Baseball, but we'll never know.
Jose Rijo finihes with a career record of 116-91 a 3.24 ERA 1606 SO in 1880 Innings, pitching in 376 games making 269 starts, and even recording 3 Saves.
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