Simeon Woods Richardson had a rough outing on the mound against the Kansas City Royals, surrendering eight hits, four walks, and four runs over 5 ⅔ innings on 107 pitches, ultimately taking the loss in the Royals’ 4-2 win at Kauffman Stadium. The defeat dropped the Minnesota Twins to a disappointing 3-7 record.
Ongoing Rotation Woes for Minnesota
Richardson’s inability to pitch deep into the game is part of a larger problem plaguing the Twins’ rotation this season. His high pitch count without completing six innings adds to the team’s early concerns about starter endurance. In response, the Twins have already designated Randy Dobnak and Darren McCaughan for assignment, both of whom had been relied upon to eat up innings. After Richardson’s exit, Scott Blewett finished out the final 2 ⅓ innings for Minnesota.
The overall performance last night was lacking. There were issues across the board—Richardson’s command faltered, timely hitting was absent, and manager Rocco Baldelli was ejected following a controversial pitch clock violation charged to Richardson while Jonathan India was at the plate.
Signs of Promise Despite Struggles
Richardson began his season with a decent showing against the Chicago White Sox on April 1, allowing two runs over four innings. Despite command issues—evidenced by his four walks against Kansas City—he has notched 11 strikeouts across 9 ⅔ innings in his first two starts. One of those walks came from a questionable call by home plate umpire Nic Lentz, which further fueled frustration.
Advanced metrics paint a slightly more optimistic picture. Richardson’s 3.69 FIP suggests he’s pitched better than his surface stats show. Two of the Royals’ early runs came on softly hit balls—a bloop double by Vinnie Pasquantino and an infield single from Kyle Isbel—which could be seen as bad luck rather than poor pitching.
Looking Ahead: A Tough Test Next Weekend
Richardson is expected to make his next start against the surging Detroit Tigers, who currently lead the AL Central and are ranked fourth in MLB in OPS (.790). It will be a tough challenge for the 24-year-old as he looks to rebound and find his rhythm in the 2025 season.
