A's LHP prospect Richardson shows off health and resiliency during Fall League homecoming

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The record books will always say that Grant Richardson recorded the first Division I NCAA Tournament win in Grand Canyon history. But that May 30, 2024 start was also the last one Richardson would make for almost two full years as he needed Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL in his left elbow. 

After serving as a hard-throwing reliever in 2023 and returning to that role to begin the following year, Richardson’s stuff began to pop, leading to a shift to the rotation. His fastball ramped up to 97 mph and the 6-foot-3 left-hander understandably attracted the attention of big league clubs.

Despite the fact that he’d be down for at least a year, the Athletics were comfortable enough to select Richardson in the sixth round of the 2025 Draft and pay him slightly over slot ($400,000) to rehab with the organization rather than transfer to Ole Miss. He jumped at the opportunity to begin his journey toward his ultimate goal: the big leagues. 

By the time the 2026 season got underway, Richardson was ready to roll. He made four appearances for Single-A Stockton, striking out 14 batters in 9 1/3 innings, though his command was slow to return with eight walks in the same span. Yet something still didn’t feel right. He was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left elbow and was shut down.

But there was a reprieve. From the moment Richardson landed on the injured list with the directive to slow things down, there was one thing circled on the calendar -- the Arizona Fall League.

A return to the circuit is especially enjoyable for Richardson, who played at Horizon High School in Scottsdale before going on to GCU in Phoenix. The 22-year-old still resides in the state during the offseason and he’s able to have family attend his outings, leaving him “pretty stoked” to be able to end his season on a high note. 

“Baseball is what I love to do,” he said. “It feels good to be back out on the field playing in this stadium, in the Fall League against all this good competition. It's a fun time.”

After striking out five batters across two frames in his debut for Mesa on Oct. 4, Richardson’s picked up three more punchouts across 2 1/3 frames and eventually the win on Wednesday afternoon in the 7-3 Solar Sox victory over Salt River at Goodyear Ballpark. His fastball averaged 94.1 mph and his mid-80s slider generated whiffs on three of the seven swings against it. He allowed one hit (a two-run homer) and a walk. 

Having the game taken away from him -- twice -- gave Richardson perspective as he spent countless monotonous hours on the mend. 

“I think just the importance of staying healthy,” he said of his biggest takeaway. “It's never fun -- obviously I went through rehab for like two years. But just how much fun the game is, being a part of the game and just my love for the game and [making sure] the passion is always there.” 

Long before he was a member of the Athletics, Richardson shared a connection with one of the franchise’s cornerstones. Jacob Wilson helped Grand Canyon blossom en route to becoming the highest-drafted player in school history when the A’s nabbed him sixth overall in 2023. The two were teammates during Richardson’s freshman year, and when he was drafted, he picked the brain of his former shortstop on what to expect. 

The Athletics have found success of late developing left-hander hurlers, in particular, especially at the top of the system. Gage Jump (Comp. Round B pick in 2024) blossomed into a consistent member of the big league rotation during the second half of the 2026 season and Jamie Arnold -- the club’s first-round selection the year they selected Richardson -- has ascended to the club’s No. 3 prospect spot and No. 55 overall. Wei-En Lin (ATH No. 6) and Mason Edwards (No. 8) are promising southpaws in their own right. 

Richardson is a ways off from that group, but the Fall League will enable him to get some much-needed innings under his belt as he readies for his first full pro campaign in 2027. The pure stuff alone has the look of a potential relief weapon but with so few chances to show what he could be, he’ll remain on a multi-inning starter track for now. 

“I love starting, it's great,” said Richardson, “but obviously, I'm for whatever gets me to the big leagues fastest and [helps me] have a long career in the big leagues.”