SAUGET, Ill. — The Miami Marlins announced Thursday morning that they recalled former Grizzlies pitcher Trevor Richards from Triple-A New Orleans for his second stint in the major leagues this season. Richards will start the Marlins’ 1:15 p.m. CDT game Thursday against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
Richards is an Aviston, Illinois, native and Drury University (NCAA Div. II; Springfield, Missouri) graduate. He pitched for the Grizzlies in 2015 and 2016. Fans can experience Trevor Richards Bobblehead Night on Friday, July 20 at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.
After only 21 months in Miami’s system, Richards made his MLB debut this April. He started five games for the Marlins and posted an 0-2 record with a 4.90 ERA.
Richards’ final start in his initial tenure with Miami came on April 25 against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. He struck out a career-high 10 batters in 4 2/3 shutout innings and allowed only four baserunners. Although he departed the game one out shy of the minimum five innings to receive the win, the Marlins went on to beat the Dodgers — who had three-time National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw on the mound — in the biggest single-game MLB upset in 14 years, according to Las Vegas betting odds.
Since he was optioned to the Triple-A Baby Cakes of the Pacific Coast League, Richards is 3-2 with a 2.06 ERA in six starts. In all six starts, he’s thrown six innings or more and allowed two or fewer earned runs. He’s also struck out 37 batters against only four walks in 39 1/3 innings with a 0.89 WHIP.
Richards is the second former Grizzlie to reach the major leagues and already has accrued the most big-league service time — Scott Patterson pitched in four MLB games in 2008, one for the New York Yankees and three for the San Diego Padres. Richards is also the first former Grizzlie to start a major-league game.
Two Grizzlies — outfielder Matt Hearn (Rockies) and starting pitcher Alec Kisena (Cardinals) — have already signed with MLB organizations this season. Gateway has sent 45 players to affiliated baseball in the franchise’s 18-year existence.
