At just 13 years old, Carlo Rivero plays baseball with a poise and precision that feels years beyond his age. A standout on the FBA National team and a name that’s already well known on the Perfect Game circuit, Carlo has stacked up one accolade after another: 2024 PG Select Festival 11U Pitcher of the Year, 2025 12U Select Fest Home Run Challenge Champion, World Cup Qualifier MVP, and a recent invite to the 13U/14U Athlete Development Program.
But what makes Carlo special isn’t just the trophies. It’s how he carries himself — the way he approaches the game with respect, discipline, and a work ethic that never lets up.
A Game That Started at Home
Carlo’s baseball journey began in the backyard, where his dad and older brother first handed him a glove.
“My dad, for sure,” Carlo said when asked who inspired him most. “When I was little, I saw him playing and I was like, oh, I want to be just like him.”
His brother played shortstop, and naturally, that became Carlo’s position too. “Ever since I was little, I saw my brother playing short, and I said I really want to be there,” he said. “That’s still my favorite spot.”
It’s where he commands the field: quick first step, fast hands, and baseball instincts that seem almost automatic.
Big Moments, Bigger Impact
When he talks about his favorite baseball memory, Carlo doesn’t hesitate: Cooperstown.
“The experience I had over there was just unreal,” he said with a smile. “Just being there — that’s something I’ll never forget.”
But Cooperstown was only the beginning. In 2024, Carlo wore the stars and stripes for Team USA’s 12U National Team in the World Cup Qualifier... and he dominated.
He hit .478 with five multi-hit games, led the tournament in RBIs (14), and went 2–0 on the mound with a 0.00 ERA. He launched home runs against Ecuador and Cuba and drove in four runs in the gold medal game against the Dominican Republic.
That performance earned him World Cup Qualifier MVP and solidified his reputation as one of the top dual threats in youth baseball.
Work That Never Stops
Carlo’s success is the product of daily discipline.
“Every day we’ve been hitting,” he said. “Working on mechanics.”
Even in the offseason, he’s in the cage, breaking down video, and refining every move. “The ball’s been jumping off a lot lately,” he said. “Ever since I’ve been putting SQAIRZ on, I have more balance.”
He credits his consistency to preparation and mindset. “Have discipline and stay humble,” he said when asked what advice he’d give younger players.
That quiet confidence and the belief that hard work compounds is what keeps him climbing.
A New Level of Footwear
Carlo was one of the first players in the country to wear the Perfect Game x SQAIRZ Palm Edition GFP™ — the first-ever co-branded baseball cleat from Perfect Game and SQAIRZ.
His reaction was immediate:
“They were really comfortable,” he said. “Those were the best shoes I’ve ever had. They felt good on my feet and were way lighter than other shoes.”
For a player who used to feel pain in his pinky toes from narrow Nike spikes, the difference was night and day.
“My pinky was really hurting before,” he said. “But with SQAIRZ, my feet just felt normal and really comfortable.”
That comfort translated to performance. “The ball’s been jumping off like a lot lately,” Carlo said. “And I have more balance.”
It’s biomechanics. SQAIRZ cleats are the first baseball shoes engineered around foot function rather than fashion. The patented roomier toe box gives players room to spread their toes and create a wider base of support. More surface area means more ground connection, and that connection is everything in baseball.
Every time a player plants, pivots, or drives through the zone, force transfers through three critical points: the big toe, pinky toe, and heel. Traditional, tapered shoes restrict that movement, throwing off alignment and wasting power. SQAIRZ unlocks it.
For Carlo, that means more stability at shortstop, smoother transitions off the mound, and more explosiveness in his swing. “It just feels natural,” he said. “Like how your foot’s supposed to move.”
The Palm Cleat, inspired by Florida’s spring training and Perfect Game’s roots, represents more than a collab. It’s a statement piece: the official footwear of Perfect Game athletes, built for the next generation who expect their gear to perform as hard as they do.
What’s Next
Carlo’s goals are clear: “Touch 90 and get better fielding-wise.” He’s already throwing 84, and with his work ethic, that number’s climbing fast. “I see myself in varsity and probably talking to a couple of scouts,” he said. “Probably major league scouts or some D1 coaches.”
His dream teams? The Dodgers or Seattle Mariners.
At 13, Carlo’s already proven he belongs among the game’s top young players. And with SQAIRZ on his feet, he’s grounded, literally, for everything that comes next.
Shop the Perfect Game x SQAIRZ Palm Edition cleat everyone’s talking about.