Richard stepping right, will start Wednesday
During the White Sox' 2007 training camp, Clayton Richard's promising career nearly came to an abrupt end.
While warming up with a group of fellow minor-leaguers on one of the back fields at the Sox' spring complex, Richard made an errant throw that hit Bobby Jenks in the neck.
The White Sox' burly closer had to be restrained after trying to go after Richard. That was the end of the incident, and the two are now Sox teammates.
If all goes well, maybe Jenks will get the save and Richard his first major-league win Wednesday.
With Jose Contreras on the 15-day disabled list, Richard was called up from Class AAA Charlotte on Monday. The 24-year-old left-hander is scheduled to make his first major-league start Wednesday afternoon against the Rangers.
It has been quite a month for Richard, who was promoted from Class AA Birmingham to AAA Charlotte, started for the United States in the July 13 All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium, and was selected to the U.S. Olympic Team for the Beijing Games next month.
"It's been a whirlwind,'' said Richard, selected by the White Sox on the eighth round of the 2005 draft out of the University of Michigan, where he also played quarterback. "I started in Double-A, then about a month ago things kind of got set in motion. It's been really busy since then, with the Futures Game, the possibility of the Olympics and the recent call-up. So it's been all really exciting.''
Richard was a combined 12-6 with a 2.44 ERA this season. He was 6-0 with a 2.37 ERA at Charlotte.
"Good for him,'' said Sox general manager Kenny Williams. "He's taken the ball and run with it. He's established both sides of the plate, he's got a little funky backside, some deception. He's got a slow enough delivery; he's got a good breaking ball and changeup.
"There's a lot to like about Clayton.''
Mark Buehrle was scheduled to start Wednesday, but the veteran lefty pitches against Texas tonight on three days' rest and then returns home to Missouri for his grandfather's funeral.
Richard follows Buehrle.
"You're in New York playing in the Futures Game for a reason, and you've been picked by the national team to go to the Olympics for a reason,'' said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "I think this kid's had a good year and hopefully we found another good pitcher from the minor leagues.''