Simeon Woods Richardson Bio
Simeon Woods Richardson is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays in Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022 with the Minnesota Twins and has also spent time with the Toronto Blue Jays. Woods Richardson gained international recognition as a member of the United States national baseball team that won the silver medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
A right-handed starting pitcher, Woods Richardson has worked his way through the minor leagues and reached the highest level of professional baseball at a young age. His career has included stops in several organizations, and he has become a respected arm within the Twins organization.
Early Life and Background
Simeon Woods Richardson was born on September 27, 2000, in Sugar Land, Texas, a suburb of Houston. He grew up in the Sugar Land area and attended Kempner High School, where he played baseball and developed into one of the top pitching prospects in the country. During his high school years, Woods Richardson showcased a strong arm and an advanced feel for pitching, drawing attention from professional scouts.
Coming out of high school, Woods Richardson was considered one of the most promising young pitchers in the 2018 draft class. He had originally committed to play college baseball at the University of Texas at Austin, but his strong draft stock gave him a chance to begin his professional career immediately. He finished his amateur career as one of the most highly regarded high school pitchers in the state of Texas.
Path to Major League Baseball
Woods Richardson’s path to the majors began when the New York Mets selected him in the second round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft with the 48th overall pick. The Mets saw him as a polished high school arm with the upside of becoming a front-of-the-rotation starter. He signed with the organization and was assigned to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Mets to begin his professional career.
After a brief stint in the rookie leagues, Woods Richardson was promoted to the Rookie Advanced Kingsport Mets. He posted a strong 1–0 record with a 1.56 earned run average (ERA) and 26 strikeouts across 17⅓ innings, quickly establishing himself as a top prospect in the Mets system. He began the 2019 season with the Class-A Columbia Fireflies of the South Atlantic League and was later promoted to the Advanced-A St. Lucie Mets of the Florida State League. However, before he could report to St. Lucie, the Mets traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays in a deal for pitcher Marcus Stroman.
Simeon Woods Richardson Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
After being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019, Woods Richardson was assigned to the High-A Dunedin Blue Jays. Over 26 starts between Columbia and Dunedin that season, he posted a 6–10 record with a 3.80 ERA and 126 strikeouts in 106⅔ innings. He showed flashes of brilliance while adjusting to the higher levels of professional baseball.
The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing Woods Richardson from gaining any official game experience that year. Despite the lost season, he continued to develop in the Blue Jays system and was viewed as a rising pitching prospect heading into 2021.
Minor League Development and Olympic Participation (2021)
Woods Richardson opened the 2021 season with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Double-A Northeast, where he compiled a 2–4 record and a 5.76 ERA with 67 strikeouts across 45⅓ innings. On July 30, 2021, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins along with Austin Martin in a deal that sent José Berríos to Toronto. He finished the year with the Wichita Wind Surge of the Double-A Central, going 3–5 with a 5.91 ERA across 53⅓ innings between the two teams.
In May 2021, Woods Richardson was named to the United States national baseball team’s roster for Olympic qualifying. After helping the team qualify, he was named to the official roster for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which were held in 2021. He played a key role on the staff as the United States won the silver medal, falling to Japan in the gold-medal game.
Minnesota Twins Debut (2022–2024)
Woods Richardson began the 2022 season back with Wichita before being promoted to the St. Paul Saints of the Triple-A International League in August. On October 2, 2022, he was promoted to the major leagues for the first time and made his MLB debut that same day against the Detroit Tigers. Upon his debut, his 15-character last name set a new MLB record for the longest last name in league history, surpassing seven other players.
He was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul to begin the 2023 season and made only one appearance for Minnesota that year. He was again optioned to St. Paul to begin the 2024 season, but on April 13, 2024, he was recalled as the 27th man for a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers and earned his first career MLB win. He continued to bounce between St. Paul and Minnesota throughout 2024 as he continued his development.
2026 Season and Return to Toronto
Woods Richardson made 12 appearances, including 10 starts, for Minnesota to begin the 2026 campaign, but struggled to an 0–7 record and 7.74 ERA with 26 strikeouts across 47⅔ innings. On May 30, 2026, the Twins designated him for assignment. Just days later, on June 3, 2026, the Toronto Blue Jays acquired him in exchange for cash considerations. He made his Blue Jays debut on June 8, 2026, pitching four scoreless innings against the Philadelphia Phillies and allowing just one hit.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most notable milestones in Woods Richardson’s career came on October 2, 2022, when his MLB debut set a new league record for the longest last name in MLB history at 15 characters, surpassing several other players. That record was later surpassed on July 17, 2023, by Christian Encarnacion-Strand of the Cincinnati Reds. Woods Richardson also earned an Olympic silver medal with Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Games, one of the highest honors in international baseball competition.
Simeon Woods Richardson Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Woods Richardson was raised in Sugar Land, Texas, where he attended Kempner High School and developed into one of the top pitching prospects in the country. His family supported his baseball career from an early age, and he chose to pursue professional baseball out of high school rather than attend the University of Texas at Austin. Limited public information is available about his immediate family members, and he has generally kept his personal life private.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented another year of development for Woods Richardson within the Minnesota Twins organization. He continued to split time between Triple-A St. Paul and the major league club, working to refine his command and consistency on the mound. His mix of youth and experience made him an intriguing option for the Twins rotation.
Heading into the 2025 campaign, Woods Richardson was focused on establishing himself as a reliable starter at the MLB level after earning his first career win in 2024. His Olympic experience and minor league track record suggested he had the tools to succeed if given an extended opportunity.
Following his 2025 season, Woods Richardson began 2026 with the Twins before being designated for assignment in May and traded back to the Toronto Blue Jays in June. His journey between organizations reflected the constant evaluation and movement that defines careers of young pitchers still working to establish themselves in the majors.
