Lyon Richardson

Lyon Richardson
Cincinnati Reds – No. 72
Pitcher
Born: (2000-01-18) January 18, 2000 (age 24)
Jensen Beach, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 6, 2023, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
(through July 30, 2024)
Win–loss record0–2
Earned run average9.35
Strikeouts13
Teams

Lyon Richardson (born January 18, 2000) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Amateur career

Richardson attended Jensen Beach High School in Jensen Beach, Florida.[1][2] He committed to play college baseball at the University of Florida.[3] As a senior in 2018, he went 7–0 with a 0.58 ERA and ninety strikeouts over 48 innings alongside batting .369, and was named the Treasure Coast Newspapers Player of the Year.[4] After his senior season, he was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round (47th overall) of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[5][6][7][8]

Professional career

Richardson signed with the Reds and made his professional debut that year with the Greeneville Reds of the Rookie-level Appalachian League.[9] Over 29 innings, he compiled a 0–5 record and a 7.14 ERA.[10] In 2019, his first full minor league season, he played with the Dayton Dragons of the Class A Midwest League, going 3–9 with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP over 26 starts.[11] After the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he flew to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and spent the summer working out at Cressey Sports Performance, participating in simulated games with fellow minor leaguers.[12] In September, he was added to Cincinnati's 60-man player pool and participated in their instructional league.[13] Richardson was assigned to Dayton, now members of the High-A Central, for the 2021 season; he appeared in 19 games (18 starts) in which he went 2–5 with a 5.09 ERA, 91 strikeouts, and 38 walks over 76 innings.[14] Following the season's end, he underwent Tommy John surgery, and thus missed all of the 2022 season.[15]

On November 15, 2022, the Reds selected Richardson's contract and added him to the 40-man roster.[16] Richardson split minor league time in 2023 between the Daytona Tortugas, the Chattanooga Lookouts, and the Louisville Bats.[17] On August 6, Richardson was called up to the major leagues for the first time to make his MLB debut.[18] He made 4 starts for the Reds, struggling to an 8.64 ERA with 13 strikeouts across 16+2⁄3 innings pitched.

Richardson was optioned to Triple–A Louisville to begin the 2024 season.[19]

References

  1. ^ "Cincinnati Reds 2nd round draft pick Lyon Richardson makes Jensen Beach baseball proud | WPEC". Cbs12.com. June 7, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  2. ^ "After MLB draft pick, Lyon Richardson's dad reflects on son's childhood". Tcpalm.com. June 5, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "Jensen Beach High School pitcher Lyon Richardson prepares for MLB Draft". Tcpalm.com. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  4. ^ "Get Access". Tcpalm.com. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  5. ^ "Reds draft pitchers Richardson, Gray on first day of MLB Draft". Cincinnati.com. June 5, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  6. ^ "Jensen Beach pitcher Lyon Richardson selected in MLB draft 2nd round". Tcpalm.com. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  7. ^ Jablonski, David. "Reds take high school pitcher from Florida in second round". journal-news.
  8. ^ Jablonski, David. "Reds take high school pitcher from Florida in second round". dayton-daily-news.
  9. ^ "Reds pick Lyon Richardson cool and confident about pro debut Saturday – The Athletic". Theathletic.com. June 22, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  10. ^ Katz, Marc. "Katz: Dragons right-hander Richardson one to watch in Reds system". dayton-daily-news.
  11. ^ "Get Access". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  12. ^ "Minor league baseball players workout out in Palm Beach Gardens". Palmbeachpost.com. September 3, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  13. ^ RotoWire Staff (September 10, 2020). "Reds' Lyon Richardson: Joins 60-man player pool". CBSSports.com. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  14. ^ "Dragons rout Loons to cap dominating season-opening series".
  15. ^ "The Enquirer".
  16. ^ Rosecrans, C. Trent. "Reds top prospects Elly De La Cruz, Noelvi Marte among Reds 40-man adds. Who else?". The Athletic.
  17. ^ "Lyon Richardson Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  18. ^ "Jensen Beach's Lyon Richardson earns call-up to the Cincinnati Reds".
  19. ^ "Reds' Lyon Richardson: Optioned to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.