Trevor Richards Bio
Trevor Michael Richards (born May 15, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher and a free agent. Richards has pitched in Major League Baseball for the Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, and Arizona Diamondbacks after beginning his professional career in independent ball and signing with the Miami Marlins in 2016.
Early Life and Background
Trevor Michael Richards grew up in the Midwest and played high school baseball at Mater Dei High School in Breese, Illinois, where he posted a 9–1 record with a 1.07 ERA as a senior in 2011. After high school he enrolled at Drury University and continued his college baseball career, finishing his senior season in 2015 with a 5–3 record and a 3.61 ERA in 11 starts.
Following the 2015 college season, Richards went undrafted and signed with the Gateway Grizzlies of the independent Frontier League. He established himself in independent ball in 2015 and into 2016, recording a 3.36 ERA in 14 starts in 2015 and a 3.21 ERA across eight starts in 2016 while ranking among league strikeout leaders, which helped him attract attention from affiliated scouts.
Path to Baseball
Richards’ professional ladder began in the independent Frontier League before the Miami Marlins signed him in July 2016. Upon signing, he was assigned to Single-A affiliates where he moved quickly through the Marlins’ system, spending time with the Batavia Muckdogs and Greensboro Grasshoppers in 2016 and progressing to Advanced-A Jupiter Hammerheads and Double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in 2017.
During his time in the Marlins farm system Richards developed into a starting pitcher prospect, recording notable strikeout totals and earning recognition within the organization. His 2017 season included 158 strikeouts over 146 innings and led to his being named the Miami Marlins Minor League Pitcher of the Year, a milestone that put him on track for a major league debut the following season.
Trevor Richards Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
After signing with the Miami Marlins in July 2016, Richards completed 2016 with a combined 2–3 record and a 2.48 ERA in nine starts between Batavia and Greensboro. The results and his strikeout ability earned him a promotion the next year through Jupiter and Jacksonville, where he compiled a 12–11 record with a 2.53 ERA and 158 strikeouts across 146 innings in 2017.
Richards’ 2017 performance as a starter drew organizational honors and accelerated his path to the majors. The combination of innings, strikeouts, and a low earned run average at Double-A and Advanced-A provided the evidence the Marlins used to bring him to the big league roster in 2018.
Miami Marlins Breakthrough (2018–2019)
Richards made his Major League Baseball debut with the Miami Marlins on April 2, 2018, starting against the Boston Red Sox. He struck out five in that first outing. Later that month on April 25, 2018, facing Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Richards recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts while allowing one hit in a start that drew attention to his ability to miss bats at the highest level.
He finished the 2018 season as a regular in the Marlins rotation, compiling a 4–9 record with 130 strikeouts in 126 1/3 innings across 25 starts. The 2019 season began in the Miami rotation but included a move to the bullpen midseason; he was shifted to a relief role in July 2019 after a stretch of starts and roster adjustments.
Tampa Bay Rays and Subsequent Moves (2019–2021)
On July 31, 2019, Richards was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a deal that also involved Nick Anderson and players sent to Miami. He made his first start for Tampa Bay on August 18, 2019, and served in both starting and relief roles with the Rays, working as a swing man in 2019 and 2020.
In 2020 Richards appeared in a mix of starts and relief outings for the Rays. In 2021 he was part of a multi-team sequence that included a trade to the Milwaukee Brewers on May 21, 2021, in a deal that sent players the other way. Across those moves he worked as a bullpen arm and spot starter while compiling strikeout totals that illustrated his continued ability to generate swings and misses.
Toronto Blue Jays Era (2021–2024)
Richards was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 6, 2021, and established himself primarily as a relief pitcher in Toronto. In 2021 he worked in 32 games out of the bullpen for the Blue Jays, producing a 4–2 record and a 3.31 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings. He remained a regular bullpen option for Toronto across subsequent seasons.
Richards avoided salary arbitration with the Blue Jays by signing a one-year, $1.5 million contract on January 13, 2023. He appeared in 56 contests for Toronto in 2023 and produced a season with 105 strikeouts in 72 2/3 innings while working primarily in relief. In 2024 he appeared in 45 games for Toronto and continued to be a late-inning option before a midseason roster move to Minnesota.
Minnesota Twins and 2024 Transition (2024)
On July 30, 2024, Richards was traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for a minor-league player. In 10 games for Minnesota he recorded a 4.15 ERA with 13 strikeouts across 13 innings. The Twins designated him for assignment on August 27, 2024; he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A St. Paul on September 2, then elected free agency on October 1, 2024.
Kansas City Royals and Arizona Diamondbacks (2025)
In 2025 Richards signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals and was added to the active roster early in June after a strong run at Triple-A Omaha. His time on Kansas City’s major league roster was brief, and he elected free agency after being designated for assignment and clearing waivers.
Shortly after leaving the Royals organization, Richards signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks on a minor league deal in June 2025 and was added to Arizona’s active roster in mid-July. He made two relief appearances for the Diamondbacks before a roster move returned him to Triple-A and he again elected free agency following the season.
Pitching Style and Strengths
Richards is a right-handed pitcher known for his ability to generate strikeouts and to work both as a starter and as a reliever. Throughout his career he has shown a capacity to miss bats, a trait evidenced by multiple double-digit strikeout performances and season strikeout totals that have been a defining part of his professional profile.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Richards’ career include signing with the Miami Marlins from independent ball in 2016, being named the Marlins Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2017, making his MLB debut on April 2, 2018, and recording a 10-strikeout outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 25, 2018. Those moments established him as a major-league-caliber arm capable of high-strikeout performances.
Trevor Richards Career Wins
Richards’ professional wins and seasonal records have come in a mix of starting and relief roles across minor league and major league stops. Notable season records include a 4–9 mark in 2018 with the Miami Marlins and a string of relief wins and appearances across subsequent seasons while serving primarily as a bullpen arm for several MLB clubs.
MLB Highlights
Among Richards’ MLB highlights are his 2018 rookie season strikeout totals, the 10-strikeout game facing Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers, and productive relief stretches with the Toronto Blue Jays where he compiled triple-digit strikeout seasons in multi-inning relief work. His flexibility to start or relieve has been a consistent element of his value to major league bullpens.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Before reaching the majors, Richards recorded quality performances in independent ball with the Gateway Grizzlies and in the Marlins’ minor league system, including a 2017 campaign that featured 158 strikeouts and organizational Pitcher of the Year recognition. Those performances were the foundation for his ascent to MLB.
Trevor Richards Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public records and team biographies identify Richards’ Midwest roots and progression through Illinois high school and Missouri college baseball programs. There is no verified public information indicating a multigenerational baseball lineage.
Personal Life
Richards is married to his wife, Aunna; the couple became engaged in 2018 and married in 2019. They reside in Springfield, Missouri. Other personal-family details have not been publicized or verified in the available sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season saw Richards move between organizations as he sought to reestablish a stable major league role. He signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals, earned a brief promotion to the active roster after strong Triple-A work, and elected free agency following a short major league stint. He then signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, made two appearances at the big league level, and finished the season back in Triple-A before electing free agency again.
Overall, the 2025 campaign reflected a veteran pitcher working as organizational depth who provided strikeout ability in short major league stints while navigating frequent roster moves. As a free agent following the 2025 season, Richards entered the offseason with major league experience across multiple clubs and a track record as a swingman able to relieve or make spot starts.