Simeon Woods Richardson Bio
Simeon Woods Richardson is an American professional baseball pitcher currently playing for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. Born on September 27, 2000, in Sugar Land, Texas, he has established himself as a promising young arm in professional baseball. Woods Richardson made his MLB debut with the Minnesota Twins in October 2022 and represented the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where he helped the American team capture a silver medal. His professional journey has seen him develop through multiple organizations, including the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and Minnesota Twins, before returning to Toronto in 2026.
Early Life and Background
Simeon Woods Richardson grew up in Sugar Land, Texas, a city known for producing numerous professional athletes. He attended Kempner High School in his hometown, where he developed into a highly regarded baseball prospect during his high school career. His exceptional performance on the mound attracted attention from college programs and professional scouts alike.
Following his graduation from Kempner High School, Woods Richardson committed to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level. He accepted an offer to attend the University of Texas at Austin, one of the premier college baseball programs in the United States, where he planned to play for the Longhorns. However, his professional aspirations would take precedence over his college plans.
Path to Professional Baseball
Woods Richardson’s talent as a high school pitcher caught the attention of Major League Baseball scouts, and his amateur career culminated in the 2018 MLB Draft. The New York Mets selected Woods Richardson in the second round with the 48th overall pick, securing his transition directly from amateur baseball to professional baseball. This draft position represented a significant achievement and reflected the high expectations placed on his developing career.
The Mets immediately assigned Woods Richardson to their rookie-level affiliates to begin his professional development. He reported to the Gulf Coast League Mets and later advanced to the Rookie Advanced Kingsport Mets, where he demonstrated his potential by posting a 1-0 record with a 1.56 earned run average and 26 strikeouts across 17 and one-third innings pitched. These early results indicated his ability to compete against professional hitters.
Simeon Woods Richardson Career
Minor League Development (2018-2021)
Woods Richardson began the 2019 season with the Class-A Columbia Fireflies of the South Atlantic League, continuing his ascent through the Mets minor league system. His performance with Columbia earned him a promotion to the Advanced-A St. Lucie Mets of the Florida State League in July 2019. However, before he could report to St. Lucie, the Mets included him in a significant trade.
In July 2019, the Mets traded Woods Richardson along with fellow pitcher Anthony Kay to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Marcus Stroman, a established major league starting pitcher. The trade represented a meaningful opportunity for Woods Richardson to join a rebuilding Blue Jays organization that prioritized developing young talent. Toronto assigned him to the High-A Dunedin Blue Jays following the acquisition.
Across 26 starts between Columbia and Dunedin in 2019, Woods Richardson compiled a 6-10 record with a 3.80 ERA and 126 strikeouts in 106 and two-thirds innings. The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing him from continuing his development on the field. Woods Richardson opened the 2021 season with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Double-A Northeast, where he made 11 starts and posted a 2-4 record with a 5.76 ERA and 67 strikeouts across 45 and one-third innings.
Minnesota Twins Era (2022-2026)
On July 30, 2021, the Blue Jays traded Woods Richardson along with outfielder Austin Martin to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for José Berríos, a key piece in Toronto’s playoff push. Woods Richardson was assigned to the Wichita Wind Surge of the Double-A Central following the trade. Over 15 games totaling 14 starts between Wichita and New Hampshire, he went 3-5 with a 5.91 ERA, 77 strikeouts, and 34 walks across 53 and one-third innings.
Woods Richardson returned to Wichita to begin the 2022 season, and the Twins promoted him to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints of the International League in August. His strong work at the Triple-A level earned him his first major league promotion. On October 2, 2022, the Twins selected Woods Richardson to the active roster, and he made his MLB debut that same day against the Detroit Tigers. Upon his debut, he surpassed seven players for the longest last name in MLB history with 15 characters total.
The Twins optioned Woods Richardson to Triple-A St. Paul to begin the 2023 season, and he made only one appearance for Minnesota that year, allowing five runs on seven hits with five strikeouts across four and two-thirds innings. He again began the 2024 season with St. Paul before receiving another opportunity with the major league club.
On April 13, 2024, Woods Richardson was recalled as the 27th man for a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers, during which he earned his first career MLB win. The Twins optioned him back to St. Paul the following day before recalling him again on April 25, 2024. For the 2026 season, Woods Richardson made 12 appearances including 10 starts for Minnesota, but struggled with an 0-7 record and 7.74 ERA, recording 26 strikeouts across 47 and two-thirds innings. On May 30, 2026, the Twins designated him for assignment.
Return to Toronto Blue Jays (2026)
On June 3, 2026, Woods Richardson was traded back to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations, returning to the organization that initially acquired him in 2019. He made his Blue Jays debut on June 8, 2026, pitching four scoreless innings while allowing just one hit against the Philadelphia Phillies. This performance demonstrated his ability to contribute immediately upon joining his new team.
Pitching Style and Strengths
Woods Richardson features a power-oriented pitching arsenal that has developed throughout his minor league career. His ability to generate strikeouts has remained a consistent strength throughout his professional journey, with his strikeout totals reflecting his capacity to miss bats at the professional level. His development curve has shown continued refinement of his command and pitch sequencing as he adjusts to major league hitters.
Notable Events and Milestones
His MLB debut on October 2, 2022, marked a significant milestone in his career, as he became just the 15th-longest surname in MLB history at that time. His first career win on April 13, 2024, against the Detroit Tigers represented a breakthrough moment after nearly two years of shuttling between the majors and minors. The trade back to Toronto in June 2026 completed a full circle in his professional journey, returning him to the organization where he began his minor league career.
Simeon Woods Richardson Career Statistics
Through his MLB career spanning portions of multiple seasons with the Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays, Woods Richardson has accumulated meaningful experience at the highest level of professional baseball. His international experience at the 2020 Olympics added another dimension to his career achievements.
Major League Baseball Highlights
Across his MLB career through June 25, 2026, Woods Richardson has compiled a 13-17 win-loss record with a 4.61 earned run average and 263 strikeouts. His first career victory came in April 2024 with the Twins, representing a key milestone in his professional development. The return to Toronto in June 2026 gave him a fresh start with the organization that originally acquired him from the Mets.
International Achievements
In May 2021, Woods Richardson was named to the United States national baseball team roster for Olympic qualifying. After the team secured their Olympic berth, he was officially named to the Olympics roster on July 2, 2021. The United States team competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and advanced to the gold medal game, where they fell to Japan and settled for the silver medal. This Olympic appearance represented the highest level of international competition in his career to that point.
| Competition Level | Wins | Losses | ERA | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB (through June 2026) | 13 | 17 | 4.61 | 263 |
Simeon Woods Richardson Family
Family Background and Baseball Connections
While detailed information about Woods Richardson’s family background remains private, his development as a pitcher from Sugar Land, Texas, suggests a supportive environment that fostered his athletic ambitions. Growing up in the Houston metropolitan area provided him access to strong youth baseball programs and competitive travel teams that helped shape his early career.
Personal Life
Woods Richardson maintains a professional focus as he continues his baseball career at the major league level. Information about his personal relationships remains private, and he continues to dedicate himself to his development as a professional pitcher. His journey from high school prospect to MLB contributor demonstrates his commitment to the sport.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a continued period of development and adjustment for Woods Richardson as he worked to establish himself as a reliable major league pitcher. His role with the Minnesota Twins organization provided him with regular opportunities to contribute at the highest level while refining his craft in the minor leagues between call-ups. The Twins’ patient approach with their young pitching assets allowed him to accumulate valuable experience at the Triple-A level with St. Paul.
Woods Richardson’s ability to earn promotions from Triple-A to the majors demonstrated the organizational confidence in his potential. The competitiveness of the American League Central division provided meaningful challenges that tested his abilities against quality lineups. His strikeout capability remained his primary weapon, though continued work on command and pitch efficiency remained areas of focus for his development.
The outlook for Woods Richardson’s career trajectory in 2025 and beyond centers on his potential to develop into a reliable starting pitcher or multi-inning reliever at the major league level. His experience in the 2020 Olympics, combined with his continued presence in MLB organizations, positions him as a promising young arm with significant upside. The return to the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 2026 offered a fresh opportunity with a team that has demonstrated commitment to developing young pitching talent.