Clayton Richard

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2005
R+:  2-1-0, 2.85 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 41.0 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 8.6 K/9
A:  0-1-0, 5.23 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 10.1 IP, 0.9 BB/9, 7.0 K/9

Richard started well in his pro debut, although advanced rookie ball isn’t a high level for a college draftee.  Baseball America rated him the White Sox’ #25 prospect after the season.

2006
A:  6-6-0, 3.67 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 95.2 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 5.1 K/9
A+:  1-3-0, 4.56 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 23.2 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 4.6 K/9

For a college draftee pitching in low A during his first full season, Richard didn’t have an especially impressive season.  His ERA was good, but opponents batted .310 against him in low A and .315 in four starts in high A.  He also had very low K rates.

2007
A+:  8-12-0, 3.63 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 161.1 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 5.5 K/9

In high A, Richard improved over the previous year, but still didn’t dominate and still had a very low K rate.

2008
AA:  6-6-0, 2.47 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 83.2 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 5.7 K/9
AAA:  6-0-0, 2.45 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 44.0 IP, 0.8 BB/9, 6.8 K/9
MLB:  2-5-0, 6.04 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 47.2 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 5.5 K/9

Richard had a breakout season, dominating in AA and even more in AAA.  The White Sox called him up for three starts in July, then for good in mid-August.  In the minors, he didn’t miss a lot of bats, but he held opponents to a .212 average and allowed only five HRs.  He had more trouble in the majors, but wasn’t as bad as his ERA.

2009
MLB (CWS):  4-3-0, 4.65 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 89.0 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 6.7 K/9
MLB (SD):  5-2-0, 4.08 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 64.0 IP, 4.8 BB/9, 6.8 K/9

Richard started the season in the White Sox’ bullpen, then joined their rotation in mid-May.  He pitched just respectably, with a better K rate than he’d generally had in the minors and also a higher walk rate.  The Sox included him in a deadline deal with the Padres for Jake Peavy and he finished the season in the San Diego rotation.  He pitched about the same after the trade, except his walk rate worsened.

2010
MLB:  14-9-0, 3.75 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 201.2 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 6.8 K/9

Richard had his best MLB season, although it probably wasn’t quite as good as his ERA.  His xFIP, for one thing, was 4.04, and he had the advantage of a home park that’s highly advantageous to pitchers.

2011
MLB:  5-9-0, 3.88 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 99.2 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 4.8 K/9

Richard was having a similar season when he went out for the year in early July with a shoulder sprain.  One difference with the previous season was that the bottom dropped out of his K rate.  His xFIP (4.49) was again higher than his ERA.

2012
MLB:  14-14-0, 3.99 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 218.2 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 4.4 K/9 

Richard had another solid year for the Padres, leading the league in starts, although he also led the majors in hits allowed and the NL in HRs allowed.  The latter had not been a particular problem for him previously.  He compensated for those issues, and for an even lower K rate, but cutting his walk rate to half of what it had been.  This time, his xFIP of 4.16 was only a little above his ERA.

2013
AAA:  0-1-0, 2.25 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 12.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
MLB:  2-5-0, 7.01 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 52.2 IP, 3.6 BB/9, 4.1 K/9

Richard’s season was plagued by injuries.  Early on, he missed three weeks with a virus.  He struggled both before and after that, then went out in June with a shoulder injury.  He ultimately had two surgeries on the shoulder and did not return.  The Padres outrighted him after the season and he elected free agency.

2014
AA:  0-2-0, 6.60 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 15.0 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 4.2 K/9
AAA:  1-0-0, 4.26 ERA, 1.90 WHIP, 6.1 IP, 1.4 BB/9, 1.4 K/9

Richard spent much of the season recovering from the shoulder surgeries.  He finally signed with Arizona at the end of July and struggled through four starts in the minors.

The Pirates no doubt hope to make Richard the next in a line of pitchers who’ve proven to be successful reclamation projects, other examples being Vance Worley, Francisco Liriano and Edinson Volquez.  He figures to be a depth option, as he obviously still needs to show he’s recovered his 2010 and 2012 form.  Richard had the ability to opt out of his minor league deal when the Pirates didn’t place him on the roster at the end of spring training, but he was impressed with the team and optimistic about their ability to help him regain his form, so he chose to stay.  He was slated to remain in spring training for a while, as Worley did, and then join Indianapolis.  With Charlie Morton hurt at the beginning of the season and Brandon Cumpton out for the year, Richard will be an important option and is likely to reach Pittsburgh.