Seoul:The SSG Landers have announced the signing of former Major League Baseball pitcher Lyon Richardson. The team confirmed the agreement on Thursday, revealing that the 26-year-old has signed a one-year contract valued at US$1 million, which includes a signing bonus of $100,000.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Richardson is set to join returning ace Pedro Avila at the top of the Landers' rotation for the upcoming season. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) allows each team to sign a maximum of two foreign pitchers and one Asian quota player, with most teams opting for a pitcher in this role.

Richardson, originally a second-round draft pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2018, debuted in the MLB in 2023. He appeared in 41 games for the Reds until he was designated for assignment in June and chose free agency. He later signed with the Milwaukee Brewers, the eventual World Series champions, and pitched in one game for them. Throughout his MLB career, Richardson recorded a 6.48 ERA over 58 1/3 innings, achieving 47 strikeouts against 40 walks.

In the current year, Richardson pitched in 40 Triple-A games, recording a 4-4 record with a 4.44 ERA across 75 innings, alongside 79 strikeouts and 39 walks. The Landers described him as a groundball pitcher, which complements their hitter-friendly home field, Incheon SSG Landers Field.

Baseball Savant reports that Richardson utilized five types of pitches in 2026 a four-seam fastball, changeup, sinker, slider, and sweeper. His fastball averaged 96.3 miles per hour, marking him as the hardest-throwing starter in the KBO for 2026, slightly ahead of Avila. The Landers have expressed appreciation for the vertical movement of Richardson's fastball and his deceptive changeup, which he delivers against both left- and right-handed batters with the same arm speed as his four-seamer.