Completed Event: Baseball versus (2) Georgia Tech on May 31, 2026 , Win , 15, to, 8
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Baseball
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Richards Makes MLB Debut Tonight in NY
August 10, 2011 | Baseball
Aug. 10, 2011
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NORMAN, Okla. - Three-year letterwinner Garrett Richards (2007-09) will make his Major League Baseball debut on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium (6:05 p.m. CT) as he gets the nod as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim' starting pitcher. Richards, a native of Edmond, Okla., was called up late last night from Class AA with the Arkansas Travelers.
Richards, who was instrumental in the Sooners' strong finish to the 2009 season as a national seed, was 12-2 with a 3.06 ERA the Travs this season, his highest minor league assignment. He is the 51st Sooner to make his MLB debut and the fourth since OU Head Coach Sunny Golloway returned to Norman in 2004 (David Purcey, Ryan Rohlinger and Daniel McCutchen).
LAA manager Mike Scioscia made the announcement on Tuesday before opening the series with the Yankees. According to MLB.com, Richards is currently the fourth-best prospect in the Angels system. The 23-year-old right-hander is starting tonight's game on ESPN in the Bronx in place of veteran Joel Pineiro, who was moved to the bullpen.
"I think it's great," Scioscia said of Richards' opportunity on the Angels' website. "I think it's a great challenge for a youngster. We think he's going to pitch his game. If he can come into an atmosphere like Yankee Stadium and pitch a good game, you know how much confidence you can take away form that?"
In 2011, Richards was named a Texas League All-Star. He currently has 21 starts under his belt in Class AA with three complete games and 100 strikeouts in 141 innings pitched.
He was 12-5 in the minors in 2010 with a 3.52 ERA and 3-1 with a 1.53 ERA in his first season.
As a Sooner, the hard-throwing right-hander might be remembered most for his complete-game victory in the 2009 NCAA Norman Regional against then-No. 24 Washington State. In that contest, Richards tossed a career-high ning innings and struck out 10 batters, the second highest total in his collegiate career, and later was named to the all-tournament team.
Richards led OU in 2009 with 85 strikeouts and nine wins in 15 starts despite entering the campaign as one of the Sooners' top relievers. Prior to 2009, he had just two victories and nine saves in 46 appearances (one start).
Following his junior season, he became the third first round draft pick in the previous six years from the University of Oklahoma. Richards was drafted on day one of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with the 42nd overall pick (Supplemental First Round).
Richards was the 17th Sooner to be selected in the first round since 1967. He joined former Sooners Jackson Williams (43rd overall in 2007) and David Purcey (16th overall in 2004) as the most recent OU first round selections.
"I feel really good about where I got drafted," said Richards on the day of his selection. "It all comes back to my development here at the University of Oklahoma. Coach Golloway, the assistant coaches and the players were always on the same page of getting better every day as a team and that has helped me get to where I am today. OU is an awesome program and one of the best in the nation, in my opinion. I will continue to follow the Sooners and look forward to seeing them back in Omaha soon."
Richards got to watch his alma mater return to the College World Series in 2010, now Oklahoma gets to tune in and see the latest Sooner make his debut tonight at 6:05 p.m. CT on ESPN in New York.
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