Dustin Richardson
| IP | 16 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.375 |
| WHIP | 2.063 |
| BB/9 | 8.438 |
| SO/9 | 6.75 |
- Full name Dustin A Richardson
- Born 01/09/1984 in Newton, KS
- Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Texas Tech
- Debut 09/28/2009
-
Drafted in the 5th round (163rd overall) by the Boston Red Sox in 2006 (signed for $107,000).
View Draft Report
Richardson nearly made Texas Tech's basketball team as a walk-on and was featured prominently in ESPN's related reality show, "Knight School." His 6-foot-6, 208-pound frame is also effective in baseball, as he uses it to throw on a steep downward plane. Scouts credit Red Raiders pitching coach Lance Brown for improving his control and delivery, which weren't nearly as polished when he was at Cowley County (Kan.) Community College. Though he's a senior, Richardson is still somewhat of a project. His fastball velocity ranges from the mid-80s to the low-90s, and he gets under his curveball too often, causing it to flatten out.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
Before he made three scoreless appearances for Boston last September, Richardson's claim to fame had been his participation on the ESPN reality show "Knight School," in which Texas Tech students tried to make basketball coach Bob Knight's team as a walk-on. Richardson would have won the competition if he had been able to join the team, but that would have conflicted with his baseball participation. A one-pitch pitcher when he signed as a fifth-rounder in 2006, Richardson spent his first two full pro seasons as a starter so he would get plenty of innings to work on his secondary offerings. After going 7-11, 6.45 in 2008, he moved to the bullpen last season and took off. He led Double-A Eastern League relievers with a .186 opponent average, consistently missing bats with a 90-95 mph fastball that plays up because he's deceptive. He has ditched a loopy curveball and developed a solid slider that he trusts. He also has a fringy changeup but uses it only sparingly. The last item on Richardson's to-do list is to cut down on his walks. If he can do that in spring training, he could make the Red Sox as the No. 2 lefty in the bullpen. -
Richardson competed on ESPN's reality show "Knight School," where Texas Tech students tried to make coach Bob Knight's basketball team as a walk-on. Richardson would have won the competition if he had been able to join the team, but that would have conflicted with his baseball responsibilities. Though he was a lefthander with an 89-92 mph fastball, he lasted until the fifth round in 2006 because he was a onepitch pitcher and not the easiest guy to see because he pitched his home games in Lubbock. Richardson gets terrific extension out front of his delivery, and his low three-quarters arm slot adds deception. He has continued to get swings and misses with his heater in pro ball. His fastball plays above its velocity more than any other starter's in the system, with the exception of Justin Masterson. Richardson even tamed Lancaster in four starts at the end of the season--including three at home, with five no-hit innings in his last outing. Because he relied almost exclusively on his fastball in college, his secondary pitches are still works in progress. His curveball has loopy break and not much power, while his changeup is inconsistent. He may try to replace the changeup with a splitter in the future. The Red Sox envision him as a starter and will continue that development path, though it's easy to see him becoming a reliever and working mostly off his fastball. He could open the year in Double-A.
