Biography
Garrett Thomas Richards (born May 27, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Los Angeles Angels.
Amateur career
Richards attended Edmond Memorial High School in Edmond, Oklahoma, where he was a four-year letterwinner. His best season was in 2005, where he went 8–5 with a 2.97 ERA and 106 strikeouts. The team won regional championships in 2005 and 2006. Undrafted out of high school, Richards attended the University of Oklahoma and played college baseball for the Oklahoma Sooners. In 2007, his freshman year, he recorded nine saves, the fourth most in team history. That summer, he played with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League. In 2008, he made his first career collegiate start. He played the summer with the Mat-Su Miners of the Alaska Baseball League. 2009 was his best season, being a full-time starter he led the team in strikeouts (85) and wins (9).
Professional career
Minor Leagues
He was drafted in the first round, 42nd overall, by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, and earned an $802,800 signing bonus. He made his professional debut with Rookie level Orem, going 3–1 with a 1.53 ERA and a 7.50 strikeout to walk ratio. He started 2010 with Single-A Cedar Rapids, going 8–4 in 19 starts, earning a Midwest League All-Star selection. However, his walk total (34) did significantly rise in comparison to his strikeout total (108). He earned a mid-season promotion to High-A Rancho Cucamonga, going 4–1 with a 3.89 ERA in seven starts. He started 2011 with Double-A Arkansas, going 12–2 with a 3.06 ERA and three complete games in 21 starts, earning a Texas League All-Star selection.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim / Los Angeles Angels
On August 10, 2011, Richards was called up to take the rotation spot of Joel Piñeiro, filling in for the suspended Jered Weaver. His major league debut did not go well, as Richards took the loss to the New York Yankees, giving up 6 earned runs in 5 innings pitched. His ERA after the game was a high 10.80. During his call-up in 2011, he pitched in seven games, starting three, and went 0–2 with a 5.79 ERA. In 10 starts during 2012 for the Angels Triple-A affiliate, the Salt Lake Bees, Richards was 5–2 with a 4.31 ERA, striking out 48 while walking 29. He was called up by the Angels on June 5, 2012 to replace Jered Weaver who was placed in the 15-day disabled list and won his first major league game against the Seattle Mariners pitching seven strong innings allowing only one earned run. Making 30 appearances (9 starts) in 2012, Richards finished with a 4–3 record and a 4.69 ERA. In 2013, Richards made 47 appearances (17 starts) with a 7–8 record and a 4.16 ERA. On June 4, 2014, Richards pitched an immaculate inning against the Houston Astros, striking out Jon Singleton, Matt Dominguez, and Chris Carter in order on nine pitches. In the week prior to the 2014 All-Star Game, Richards was selected as a final vote nominee, finishing second in voting to Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox. On August 4, 2014, Richards pitched his first career shutout, allowing only five hits and no runs over nine innings, against the L.A. Dodgers.On August 20, 2014, Richards suffered a knee injury while attempting to complete a double play at first base at Fenway Park during a game against the Boston Red Sox. He had to be carted off the field. Richards was diagnosed with a torn patellar tendon in his left knee and it prematurely ended his 2014 season. He underwent surgery on August 22. The rehabilitation from the injury required between six and nine months. He made 26 starts in 2014, finishing 13–4 with a 2.61 ERA but threw an MLB-leading 22 wild pitches. On April 19, 2015, Richards was activated from the disabled list, and made his first start of the season. He made 32 starts and again led the MLB with wild pitches thrown, totaling 17 wild pitches. His record was 15–12 with a 3.65 ERA. Richards' 2016 season became short-lived as he made only 6 starts with a 1–3 record and a 2.34 ERA. On May 6, 2016, Richards was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his pitching elbow. The injury required surgery, meaning that Richards would take no further part in baseball activities for the remainder of the 2016 season. He did not get Tommy John surgery, instead he opted for a newer biometrics surgery. Richards' 2017 was also cut short due to injury, only appearing in six starts. On July 10, 2018, Richards left the game early against the Seattle Mariners with "right forearm irritation". The next day, the MRI revealed he had a damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. He underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his 2018 season and delaying his readiness in the following season. He ended the 2018 season with a record of 5–4 and a 3.66 ERA, while leading the American League with 15 wild pitches.
San Diego Padres
On December 7, 2018, Richards signed a two-year contract with the San Diego Padres. He appeared in his first game for the Padres on September 16, 2019.
Pitching style
Richards leads with four-seam and two-seam fastballs at mid-90s mph (tops out at 99) with running action. He also has a changeup to lefties, a slider to righties, and a curveball. Joe Girardi, known for serving as manager of the New York Yankees, noted that Richards' fastball is exceptional because "its movement... is not consistent". In 2018, he led the MLB in average spin rate for sliders (2919 rpm) and curveballs (3253 rpm).