SONOMA, Calif- Sonoma Stompers reliever Ryan Richardson led the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs with a career best .51 earned run average during the 2019 season, while San Rafael Pacifics Jailen Peguero led the league with 16 saves.
“Ryan has been nothing but reliable the two years I’ve been here, and we could always count on him to get us out of a tough situation,” said General Manager Brett Creamer. Richardson, the Campbellsville University alumnus has a career 14-9 record with a 2.81 ERA over his seven year career. Over 256.2 innings pitched, the RHP has 259 strikeouts to just 50 walks allowed while collecting 30 saves.
This off season, Richardson signed a contract with the Fargo-Moorehead RedHawks of the American Association. Former Stompers catcher Daniel Comstock and outfielder Brennan Metzger played for the club during the 2019 season. “Uncle Rich’s quirkiness around the clubhouse helped create a loose environment for our players. Being a former teammate, every time he stepped on the mound I expected zeros on the scoreboard,” said former player and Assistant General Manager Eddie Mora-Loera.
Peguero, a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks held a 6-4 record with a 1.88 ERA while striking out 77 batters in 38.1 innings pitched. This is the first time in Pacific Association history that two relievers have split the award.
Richardson is the third Stomper to win the award. In 2015 and 2018 Sean Conroy and Jacob Cox won the award respectively. In 2018, Cox set a Pacific Association and franchise record with 26 saves.