Former Drury Panthers pitcher Trevor Richards has gone from an undrafted signee last year to the Minor League Pitcher of the Year in the Miami Marlins organization this season. The 2015 Drury graduate received the honor on Thursday by the Marlins.
Richards was 12-11 with a 2.53 earned run average this season combining his numbers at single-A Jupiter and double-A Jacksonville. He appeared in 27 games with 25 starts and struck out 158 batters in 146.0 innings while walking only 30. He was named to the Florida State League All-Star Game before being called up double-A just after the midway point in the season. Richards led Miami’s minor league system in ERA and strikeouts, and he was second in wins.
The 2017 season was Richards’ first full year in affiliated minor league baseball after being signed in July of 2016 out of the independent Frontier League.
The Aviston, Illinois native pitched four seasons for the Panthers and left Drury ranked second all-time in strikeouts with 230, and career wins with 24. His 2.96 career ERA is also the second lowest total in program history. Richards was part of three NCAA-II tournament teams and two Great Lakes Valley Conference championship squads during his time with the Panthers. He was named All-GLVC three times and was a NCAA-II All-Midwest Region selection during his collegiate career.
Richards is one of three former Panthers currently playing in affiliated minor league baseball. Sterling Sharp (’16) is pitching in the Washington Nationals organization and finished the season in the Class A Carolina League. Nic Perkins was drafted by the Nationals in the 28th round last summer and played for Washington’s team in the New York-Penn League.
