Garrett Richards is a former American professional baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on May 27, 1988, in Riverside, California, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he played college baseball for the Sooners.
Richards was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2009 MLB draft and made his major league debut in 2011. He quickly established himself as a promising young pitcher, known for his high velocity fastball and devastating slider. In his first full season in the majors in 2013, Richards posted a 4.16 ERA and struck out 164 batters in 145 innings pitched.
Over the next few years, Richards continued to improve and became one of the Angels' top starters. In 2014, he posted a 2.61 ERA and struck out 164 batters in 168.2 innings pitched, earning him a spot on the American League All-Star team. He followed that up with another strong season in 2015, posting a 3.65 ERA and striking out 176 batters in 207.1 innings pitched.
However, Richards' career was derailed by injuries in the following years. In 2016, he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, which required Tommy John surgery and caused him to miss the rest of the season. He returned to the mound in 2017 but was limited to just six starts due to a biceps injury.
Richards continued to battle injuries over the next few years, but he remained a valuable pitcher when healthy. In 2018, he posted a 3.66 ERA and struck out 87 batters in 76.1 innings pitched. He signed with the San Diego Padres in 2020 and had a solid season, posting a 4.03 ERA and striking out 46 batters in 51.1 innings pitched.
After the 2020 season, Richards signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Boston Red Sox. He struggled in his first few starts with the team, posting a 6.48 ERA in his first six outings. However, he rebounded in June and July, posting a 2.16 ERA over his next seven starts.
Overall, Richards had a solid career as a major league pitcher, posting a 4.17 ERA and striking out 832 batters in 874.2 innings pitched. While injuries limited his effectiveness in some seasons, he remained a valuable pitcher when healthy and was known for his competitive spirit and work ethic.
⚾