Richardson Sees Great Opportunities At Marshall

Hunter Richardson LHP / OF / Butler, OH / 2025

VANDALIA - Playing time is what it’s about and Hunter Richardson believes he has found the place it can happen at Marshall.

“I really clicked with the coaches,” the Vandalia Butler senior related. “They had a good connection with my family and they were easy to talk to. I know they’re really going to develop me when I get there.”

Finding a college home was not difficult for the 30th-rated 2025 left-handed pitcher in the nation after making the decision to decommit from Kentucky.

“With the new roster rules, college baseball is kind of changing,” Richardson explained. “I want to go somewhere where I get playing time early and there’s a good opportunity to do that at Marshall. I see me getting playing time early.”

The connection began at the end of October.

“After I decommitted, Marshall followed me on Twitter and we set up calls,” the 23rd-ranked senior in Ohio reflected. “I talked to the recruiting coordinator, the pitching coach and then head coach (Greg) Beals who invited me on a visit.”

The trip to Huntington, West Va., took place in mid-November.

“I was with a couple of other recruits and they showed us around,” Richardson noted. “They have brand new baseball facilities that are really nice.”

There was also a visit to Northern Kentucky and interest from Purdue, Coastal Carolina and a couple of junior colleges, but the fifth-rated 2025 southpaw in Ohio found Marshall to be the right fit.

“Coach Beals was at Ohio State the first time I was being recruited, he followed me on Twitter and was watching me freshman year,” Richardson explained. “It wasn’t too tough getting back in it. X helped a lot, shooting out posts for all the coaches to see.”

Marshall came away impressed with what the 249th-rated senior in the country had to show.

“They like my pitchability and that I throw strikes to get guys out,” related the two-time participant in the Prep Baseball ProCase. “They also like that I can play outfield and first base and can swing it.”

The chance to be a two-way player made the decision easier.

“It’s really important to me,” the 6-2 200-pounder admitted. “I want to swing the bat as much as I can.”

But it is on the mound where Richardson is expected to make the biggest impact.

“Pitching wise I can go in and do well, throw strikes and get guys out,” the 18-year-old said. “I want to go there in the fall and make an impact. I can hit, too, but eventually if I go pros it will be as a pitcher. I’ll focus on pitching but hit, too.”

Where improvement must be made is understood.
“I need to add a couple miles an hour to my fastball,” Richardson said. “I also want to develop another breaking pitch. I have a slider now but want to add a curve. Having two breaking balls will help me a lot.”

Making strikes in his game is a constant.

“I’ve been with a trainer, Sam Faulkner, who’s helped me with getting bigger, faster, stronger,” Richardson explained. “My fastball has gone up, my exit velo is up and I had a PR in the 60, a 6.89, so I’ve gotten faster. He’s just helped me get better overall.”

High school coach Trent Dues is also credited with playing a role in connecting Richardson with Marshall, completing the dream to move on to the next level.

“It became a reality early on, in middle school or late elementary school,” Richardson said about the idea of playing college baseball. “It was different then with college coaches reaching out when I was in the eighth grade. I didn’t really know how to handle it but now I do. I like the new rule changes.”

Richardson, who carries a 3.2 GPA and plans to major in exercise science, has high anticipation about the challenges ahead at the university located three hours from home.

“I’m ready to get to campus, develop and let the coaches guide me to success,” Richardson said. “I’m excited to experience being a student-athlete in college and playing all the other Sun Belt schools.”