Outlook

Landon Richards was the No. 9 ranked outfielder in the state of Missouri, and the No. 67 overall player in the state according to Perfect Game … However, he will be focusing primarily on the mound this spring … Has a big-time arm with a lot of raw ability … With time and consistency, he could be a draftable arm down the road.

Freshman Year 2022

Made six mound appearances on the season all in relief … Logged 6.2 innings with five strikeouts and an ERA of 9.45 … Allowed a walk, a run and struck out a batter with an inning pitched in his season debut, an 11-1 win over Southwestern (2-20-22) … Had two strikeouts, a walk and an unearned run over 2.0 innings in a 27-27 win over Baker JV (3-15-22) … Hurled a scoreless inning with a strikeout to preserve a 7-4 win over Metropolitan (3-29-22).

High School  

Was a three-year starter and four-time letter winner for coach Trent Oxenreider at Hollister High School, Hollister, Mo. … Graduated 2021 … Selected the 2021 Ozark Sports Zone Baseball Player of the Year … Also was a Missouri Class 4 first-team All-State pitcher, first-team All-Big 8 East pitcher and unanimous All-Big 8 East outfielder … Posted a .469 batting average, a 1.474 OPS with 14 doubles, eight triples, four home runs, 48 RBI and 33 runs scored at the plate, and struck out 102 batters in 63.1 innings on the mound with a 7-3 record and 1.77 ERA as a senior … His 48 RBI and 102 strikeouts set new school records … Led the Tigers to a 4A State Tournament appearance and fourth-place finish, ending the year 25-7 … Earned All-Big 8 second team and Class 4 All-District 11 second-team as a sophomore … Hit .340 with 32 hits, nine doubles, a triple, 18 runs and 24 RBI … Earned Academic All-State honors.

Personal  

Born Landon James Richards on March 23, 2003, in Springfield, Mo. … Son of Bryan and Kara Richards … Has three siblings, Emma, Weston and Jaxon … His father played baseball at Labette Community College … Majoring in business … Also recruited by Drury University, Quincy College, Iowa Western Community College, State Fair Community College and Three Rivers Community College … Favorite food is pasta … Favorite fast food restaurant is Chick-fil-A … Favorite restaurant is Fazoli’s … Favorite TV shows are The Office and Outer Banks … Favorite sports movies are Hardball and 61 … Favorite actor is Matthew McConaughey … Favorite book is Three in November … Favorite music entertainer is Zach Bryan … Favorite cartoon character is Sponge Bob Square Pants … Favorite athletes are Tom Brady, LeBron James and Trevor Bauer … Favorite sports team is the St. Louis Cardinals … His greatest sports moment was his team making a Final 4 appearance at state … Best player he has played against is Aurora pitcher/third baseman Gage Singer, who was the 2019 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year.