The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

While he’s only suiting up as a first base coach nowadays, Antoan Richardson, the sixth of seven Bahamian professional baseball players to play in Major League Baseball, said he can’t wait for the return of the game, if only for the sake of the fans.

Major League Baseball announced on March 1 that they will delay its Opening Day on March 31 after the owners and players’ union failed to reach an agreement before MLB’s 5pm EST deadline. “My first thoughts for the delay of the season is that it’s sad for the fans,” said Richardson, who had a fairy tale story as a member of the San Francisco Giants.

“We just hope that we can get back out there as soon as possible so that they can enjoy the sport that they love.

“I just hope that we can get this together right away and we can get back out and compete and basically give the kids what they enjoy when they come out to watch the games.”

Richardson, selected by the Giants in the 35th round of the 2005 Major League Draft, returned to the San Francisco Giants in February 2019 as a league outfield coordinator before he was elevated as the first base coach on December 23.

Having played in the Major League as an outfielder for the Atlanta Braves in 2011 and the New York Yankees in 2014, Richardson said it’s different to prepare for the season when there’s no clear indication as to when the season will start.

“It’s the delay more than anything, but everybody’s going to continue to work hard,” Richardson said. “We just have to be ready and hit the ground running (when the call is made to play ball).

“I think everybody’s just putting as much work as they can in preparation for that day.”

When the season does commence, the Giants will be out to defend their National League Western Divisional title that they held, only to get eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the playoffs.

Richardson, 38, doesn’t want to put any pressure on his team, but stressed that they are going to compete night in and night out.

“I think there’s still some stuff to happen before the season goes along because there’s still free agents out there and stuff like that,” Richardson noted.

“I think just like last year, we just have to show up and be ready to compete and try to defend the west. It’s going to be tough. There’s a lot of good teams out there, but I feel very confident that we will be prepared and we will be ready to go every night and every day, so I’m really looking forward to just competing this year.”

Richardson, who officially retired on March 7, 2017 as a player, passed the Bahamian mantle on to 24-year-old Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm, now in his third season with the Miami Marlins.

They followed in the footsteps of the five pioneer players Andre Rodgers, Tony Curry, Ed Armbrister, Wenty Ford and Wil Culmer - all deceased - who played collectively from 1967 to 1983.

As the new kid on the block, Richardson said he’s proud of the performance of Chisholm, who has become a household name for the Marlins, just missing out on a 20-20 home season last year after he finished with an average of .248/.303/.425 with 13 home runs, 53 RBIs and 23 stolen bases.

“I just expect for him to continue to improve and to be the impact player in the Major League,” Richardson said.

“I know he has some lofty goals for himself this year, but the expectations is that he continues to make adjustments as the league adjusts to him.

“And (I hope) he just continues to be an ambassador for the Bahamas and for the younger players coming up. My hope is that he continues to make the adjustments that leads to him just continuing to improve as a baseball player on and off the field.”

As the shining light for so many young players in his era who are now in the pipeline having signed their pro contracts on a daily basis over the past few years, Richardson said the future looks bright for the Bahamas in the sport.

“I definitely feel that anytime you get an opportunity to pursue your dream and play a professional sport, you definitely have to look into it, do your due diligence and figure out if that’s the best part for you,” Richardson advised the younger players. “

My hope is that we see more guys get to the Major League. With some help and resources, I’m excited to think that we could get some guys to the Majors sooner than later. I know there are a couple of people working hard at home making sure that the minor leaguers get some resources and so I’m looking forward to the announcement around that and what that could mean for the future of baseball in our country.”

Richardson said he just hopes that the Major League can get their act together and play ball so that the near core of Bahamian players can get the experience that he and Chisholm and the deceased players enjoyed so far.