Ricky Karcher

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Ricky Karcher

|image = Ricky Karcher (53160831598) (cropped).jpg

|caption = Karcher with the Louisville Bats in 2023

|team = Diablos Rojos del México

|number = 74

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|9|18}}

|birth_place = Saline, Michigan, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = June 12

|debutyear = 2023

|debutteam = Cincinnati Reds

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2023 season

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 0–0

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 0.00

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 0

|teams =

Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|2023}})

}}

Richard Thomas Karcher (born September 18, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds.

Early life and amateur career

Karcher grew up in Ponte Vedra, Florida, and initially attended Ponte Vedra High School.{{cite web|url=https://pontevedrarecorder.com/stories/cincinnati-reds-draft-former-shark-ricky-karcher,3830|title=Cincinnati Reds draft former Shark Ricky Karcher|work=Ponte Vedra Recorder|date=June 22, 2017|access-date=July 4, 2022}} Prior to his senior year of high school his family relocated to Saline, Michigan, and he transferred to Saline High School.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/article/how-saline-baseball-became-a-midwest-college-breeding-ground/|title=How Saline baseball became a midwest college breeding ground|website=MLive.com|date=March 30, 2016|access-date=June 29, 2022}} In his lone season at Saline, Karcher had a 9–0 win–loss record with 0.41 earned run average (ERA).{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/sports/ann-arbor/2023/06/cincinnati-reds-call-up-former-saline-pitcher-ricky-karcher-for-mlb-debut.html|title=Cincinnati Reds call up former Saline pitcher Ricky Karcher for MLB debut|first=Greg|last=Wickliffe|website=MLive.com|date=June 9, 2023|access-date=June 13, 2023}}

Karcher enrolled at the University of Michigan and began his college baseball career with the Michigan Wolverines. After his freshman season, he transferred to Walters State Community College.{{cite web|url=https://www.wjhl.com/sports/five-players-with-walters-state-ties-selected-in-mlb-draft/|title=Five players with Walters State ties selected in MLB Draft|first=Kenny|last=Hawkins|website=WJHL.com|date=June 14, 2017|access-date=June 28, 2022}} Karcher went 7–3 with a 4.27 ERA in 15 appearances with 12 starts in his lone season at Walters State.

Professional career

=Cincinnati Reds=

The Cincinnati Reds selected Karcher in the 13th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/high-school/2017/06/13/2017-mlb-draft-players-taken-tennessee-ties/389560001/|title=2017 MLB draft: Players taken with Tennessee ties|work=The Tennessean|date=June 13, 2017|access-date=June 29, 2022}} He spent his first three seasons with the team primarily as a starting pitcher and was assigned to the Arizona League Reds, Greeneville Reds, and Billings Mustangs. Karcher did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=July 6, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}}

He began the 2021 season with the Daytona Tortugas of Low-A Southeast and was moved to the bullpen.{{cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2021/05/27/cincinnati-reds-minor-league-daytona-tortugas-have-top-pitching-staff/7454396002/|title=Cincinnati Reds Minor League Daytona Tortugas have top pitching staff|work=Cincinnati Enquirer|date=May 27, 2021|access-date=June 29, 2022}} He made nine appearances and struck out 19 batters with Daytona before being promoted to the High-A Dayton Dragons.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/dayton-dragons-2022-team-preview-part-8-the-relief-pitchers|title=Dayton Dragons 2022 Team Preview: Part 8—The Relief Pitchers|first=Tom|last=Nichols|website=MiLB.com|date=March 29, 2022|access-date=July 4, 2022}} Karcher was assigned to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts at the start of the 2022 season. He was promoted to the Triple-A Louisville Bats after posting a 3.24 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched.{{cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2022/06/28/cincinnati-reds-top-prospects-brandon-williamson-promoted-triple/7762144001/|title=Cincinnati Reds top prospects: Brandon Williamson promoted to Triple=A|work=Cincinnati Enquirer|date=June 28, 2022|access-date=June 29, 2022}} On November 15, 2022, the Reds added Karcher to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{Cite web|title=De La Cruz, Marte among 6 added to Reds' 40-man spot|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/elly-de-la-cruz-noelvi-marte-added-to-reds-40-man-roster|access-date=September 18, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}}

Karcher was optioned to the Triple-A Louisville Bats to begin the 2023 season.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Ricky Karcher: Optioned to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-ricky-karcher-optioned-to-triple-a/amp/|access-date=March 15, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} On June 9, 2023, he was promoted to the major leagues for the first time after Graham Ashcraft was placed on the injured list.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Ricky Karcher: Summoned to big leagues|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-ricky-karcher-summoned-to-big-leagues/amp/|access-date=June 9, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} Karcher made his debut on June 12, 2023, in the 10th inning of the Reds' 5–4 victory over the Kansas City Royals and earned the save after pitching a scoreless inning to end the game.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/ricky-karcher-earns-save-in-mlb-debut|title=Karcher earns save in debut to remember|first=Mark|last=Sheldon|website=MLB.com|date=June 13, 2023|access-date=June 13, 2023}} In 29 appearances for Louisville, he struggled to a 7.18 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 2 saves in {{fraction|31|1|3}} innings pitched. On July 6, Karcher was designated for assignment after Tony Santillan was activated from the injured list.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Ricky Karcher: Designated for assignment|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-ricky-karcher-designated-for-assignment/|access-date=July 6, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Louisville on July 10.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Ricky Karcher: Remains in organization|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-ricky-karcher-remains-in-organization/|access-date=July 12, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} Karcher elected free agency following the season on November 6.{{Cite web|title=2023 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-milb-free-agents/|access-date=May 23, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

On November 17, 2023, Karcher signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.{{Cite web |title=Transactions |url=https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/roster/transactions/2023/11 |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} In 21 games for the Triple–A Reno Aces, he struggled to an 8.46 ERA with 31 strikeouts across {{fraction|22|1|3}} innings pitched. On June 16, 2024, Karcher was released by the Diamondbacks organization.https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-06-16

=Kansas City Royals=

On July 4, 2024, Karcher signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals organization.https://www.milb.com/player/ricky-karcher-676689 In 12 appearances for the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, he compiled an 0-1 record and 5.56 ERA with 11 strikeouts across {{fraction|11|1|3}} innings pitched. Karcher elected free agency following the season on November 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2024/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2024|work=Baseball America|date=November 6, 2024|accessdate=November 6, 2024|first=Matt|last=Eddy}}

=Diablos Rojos del México=

On February 28, 2025, Karcher signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/beisbolpuro/status/1895618891440865572?s=46&t=UN5XGiNzRq3-vt33N7zCTw|title=x.com}}