Story by
Lyon Richardson, designated for assignment by Reds, signs with Brewers
- Story by
- Lyon Richardson, designated for assignment by Reds, signs with Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers signed free-agent former Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Lyon Richardson to a minor-league contract, and assigned Richardson to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.
The Reds announced June 2 they designated for assignment Richardson and left-handed pitcher Brandon Leibrandt when they selected right-handed pitcher Zach McCambley from Triple-A Louisville, and also recalled reliever Luis Mey from the Bats. Richardson elected free agency.
Advertisement
Richardson replaced Chase Burns as the Reds' starter June 1 against the Kansas City Royals , when Burns was scratched with an illness . In his final appearance for the Reds, Richardson allowed a grand slam to Lane Thomas in the top of the first of his only inning of work in a 9-2 loss .
Richardson appeared in two games this season for the Reds, and 41 over four seasons with Cincinnati.
He posted a 4.75 ERA in 18 appearances this season for the Bats, making one start.
What to know about Richardson, who turned 26 in January:
Richardson arrived at Bristol speedway on commissioner Rob Manfred's private plane.
Richardson was on his way to Louisville after the MLB Speedway Classic was suspended. But when the Reds were allowed to add a pitcher for Sunday's resumption, Richardson was called back up . And the way he got back to Bristol was quite memorable.
Advertisement
"After last night's game was suspended, both teams went to Major League Baseball and said, 'Hey, we cannot get through this game without adding another pitcher,'" Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal explained during the broadcast. "At about midnight, the Reds called Lyon Richardson, who they had just sent down earlier in the day. He was about halfway on his drive to Louisville. He turned around. But the most interesting part of the story, guys, is how he got here. It was on commissioner Rob Manfred's private plane."
"It's only about a half-hour flight," Rosenthal continued. "Richardson got the ride of his life. And Michael Hill, senior vice president of on-field operations for Major League Baseball, told Reds general manager Nick Krall this morning, 'Don't get used to that.'"
Richardson pitched in the 8th and 9th innings of the continuation.
Richardson's MLB debut was memorable, but not in a good way.
In August 2023, Richardson made his big-league debut, allowing home runs to the first two batters he faced and giving up four earned runs on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts in three innings in a 6-3 loss to the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park.
Advertisement
Two seasons later, Richardson was stingy with the long ball. In 34 relief appearances for the Reds in 2025, Richardson posted a 4.54 ERA, and allowed just two home runs over 37 2/3 innings.
Richardson missed the entire 2022 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Richardson had posted big strikeout numbers at Dayton in 2019 and 2021 before an elbow injury. But he allowed 126 hits in 112 2/3 innings for the Dragons in 2019, and walked 38 in 76 innings in '21.
Richardson has what some consider a six-pitch mix, with a breaking ball that appealed to the Reds when they drafted him.
Richardson was a second-round pick of the Reds in 2018.
The Reds took Richardson 47th overall, out of Jensen Beach High School in Florida, and gave him a signing bonus of $1,997,500.
Advertisement
In the first round , the Reds selected Jonathan India fifth overall. India had starred at Florida, the school Richardson passed up on to sign with the Reds.
Later in the second round, the Reds drafted Josiah Gray , who was traded later that year to the Los Angeles Dodgers with Homer Bailey and Jeter Downs for Kyle Farmer , Matt Kemp , Yasiel Puig , Alex Wood and cash.
The Gators had considered Richardson a potential two-way outfielder.
Richardson didn't start pitching until he was 13. Then, he was a closer for most of his high school career.
"I didn't really go extensively into pitching," Richardson said in 2018 . "I always did it, I was always able to do it. But it was more of a senior year thing."
Advertisement
As a senior, Richardson was 7-0 with a 0.58 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 48 innings. It was his only high school season as a starter.
Richardson's fastball was clocked as fast as 98 mph in high school, and his curveball was said to resemble a slider.
Lyon Richardson's start June 1 for the Reds was his final appearance for the team.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lyon Richardson, designated for assignment by Reds, signs with Brewers
