Riggan played baseball and basketball at Brewster High School in Brewster, Washington, from which he graduated in 1992. He was also his class president.
After high school, Riggan attended Edmonds Community College where he started as a shortstop and pitcher on the college baseball team and shooting guard on the college basketball team. At Edmonds, Riggan took a line drive to the head and wore a batting helmet while pitching for the following year. Riggan continued his college baseball career at San Diego State. He was selected in the thirteenth round of the 1995 Major League Baseball draft by the Florida Marlins but did not sign. As a senior at San Diego State, he was a co-captain with Travis Lee. He was selected by the California Angels in the eighth round of the 1996 draft.
After two years of moderate success as a starting pitcher in the Angels' farm system, Riggan was informed during spring training in 1998 that the Angels would be demoting him to convert him to a relief pitcher. Riggan asked for his release and the Angels responded by suspending him indefinitely. The Angels eventually agreed to release Riggan in April 1998. He subsequently landed a contract with the New York Mets after seeing an ad in The Wenatchee World for an open tryout in Yakima, Washington.

Return to Jerrod Riggan Autograph Profile