Richie Gardner

Richard John Gardner

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 205 lb.
• School Santa Rosa Junior College, University of Arizona
• High School Maria Carrillo High School
• Born February 1, 1982 in Santa Rosa, CA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Richie Gardner pitched in the minor leagues from 2004 to 2008. Despite once being named a Baseball America top-100 prospect and spending a full year (and half of another) at Triple-A, he never ascended to the majors.

He was originally taken by the Texas Rangers in the 24th round of the 2001 amateur draft, a few picks ahead of future manager John Schneider, but opted not to sign. He did sign after being taken by the Cincinnati Reds in the 6th round of the 2003 amateur draft, a few picks after third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff and ahead of future All-Star Matt Kemp. He was signed by scout Jeff Barton.

He started out with a bang, going 13-5 with a 2.53 ERA in 29 games (23 starts) between the Potomac Cannons and Chattanooga Lookouts his first season, earning the Reds Minor League Player of the Year honor. His performance prompted Baseball America to rank him the #93 prospect overall and the #3 prospect in the Reds chain (after Homer Bailey and Edwin Encarnacion and ahead of Joey Votto) going into 2005, though he struggled to a 3-6 record and 5.73 ERA in 13 starts for the Lookouts that year. After another down campaign in 2006, he rebounded to go 11-7 with a 3.52 ERA in 26 starts between three teams, including the Triple-A Louisville Bats, in 2007. That was his first taste of Triple-A; with the Bats, he went 4-5 with a 5.71 ERA in 13 starts. He was a Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star that year, having gone 5-1 with a 1.65 ERA for the Sarasota Reds. He joined the Milwaukee Brewers system in 2008, going 6-5, 5.18 in 30 games (17 starts) for their Triple-A club, the Nashville Sounds. He wrapped up his career in the Puerto Rican Winter League in 2008-09.

Overall, he went 34-26 with a 3.98 ERA in 107 games (84 starts) in the affiliated minors. In 517 1/3 innings, he allowed 534 hits and 164 walks (1.349 WHIP), while striking out 398 batters.