Guardians Baseball Insider

On Friday, June 19th the Cleveland Indians signed undrafted free agent shortstop / Right-handed Pitcher Alonzo Richardson.

Alonzo Richardson- Shortstop / Right-handed Pitcher

School: Helix HS, CA

Age: 17.7

Height: 5’11

Weight: 160

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Rankings:

Unranked

Notes:

The California native performed as a two-way player as a shortstop and right-handed pitcher. Richardson appears to be advanced defensively. As a pitcher, he displays some upside with a four-pitch arsenal and a fastball that sits low-90’s and has touched 93. While Richardson was not ranked in any top 500 the talented shortstop displays plenty of upsides. He was a San Diego State commit and likely would have been drafted in a longer draft. 

The right-handed hitting Richardson played in 6 games at shortstop this Spring hitting .364 with 8 hits, 7 rbi, and 4 runs scored. On the mound, he pitched 3 innings striking out 5 and producing an era over 4. Richardson is a famous performer appearing for Perfect Game last Summer and in the National Youth Baseball championships (highlight).

On the field, (as a position player) Richardson is an athletic, quick, defensively advanced shortstop. While the former-Aztecs commit was a two-way player in high school his future on the diamond may be on the infield dirt, not the mound. Defensively he shows good read of the ball with quick responsive actions and speed to get to a lot of balls. The low-90’s arm on the mound translates well from the hole. At Perfect Game, the projectable athletic infielder posted a 6.6 60 yard time translating to a scouting grade of 65. As he fills out his frame the speed will tick down toward above-average with plus potential a reality. Offensively, Richardson uses a simple approach. The right-hand swinging Richardson appears to lack the physicality to drive the ball but should improve as he fills out his projectable frame.

On the mound, the right-hander sits in the low-90’s with his fastball. The curveball sits mid-70’s and displays above-average potential. He appears to throw a slider in mid-to-upper 70’s and a changeup in the lower 80’s. There is plenty of projection with the probability Richardson adds more strength to his athletic frame. While his future role remains unclear at this time the athletic Richardson offers plenty of upsides. His future as a position player is likely a lighter hitting utility infielder as a fielder. As a pitcher, the four-pitch mix with potential for more velocity and above-average curveball makes him intriguing.

Potential Future Value:

Position player

Speed: 55

Arm: 55

Glove: 55

Pitcher

Fastball – 55

Curveball– 55