Paul Richan (born April 28, 1996) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs during the 2020 season.
Early life and education
Paul Richan was born in Ohio, United States. He attended high school in the state, where he played baseball and attracted attention as a left‑handed pitcher. After graduating, Richan enrolled at Xavier University and pitched for the Xavier Musketeers baseball team.
Amateur career
While at Xavier, Richan was primarily used as a starting pitcher and developed a reputation for a low walk rate and solid command. His performance in college drew the interest of Major League scouts, and he was ranked among the top left‑handed pitching prospects in the 2017 MLB Draft.
Professional career
Draft and minor leagues
The Chicago Cubs selected Richan in the third round (99th overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft. He signed with the organization and began his professional career in the rookie‑level Arizona League. Over the next few seasons, Richan progressed through the Cubs’ minor‑league system, appearing for the following affiliates:
- 2017: Arizona League Cubs (Rookie), Eugene Emeralds (Class A‑Short Season)
- 2018: South Bend Cubs (Class A)
- 2019: Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Class A‑Advanced) and Tennessee Smokies (Double‑A)
Across his minor‑league tenure, Richan was noted for his left‑handed delivery, a fastball generally in the low‑90s mph range, and a developing breaking ball.
Major League debut
Richan was added to the Chicago Cubs’ roster for the pandemic‑shortened 2020 season. He made his MLB debut on July 28, 2020, pitching two innings in relief against the Chicago White Sox. In his debut appearance, he allowed five earned runs.
Injury and later career
In early 2021, Richan underwent shoulder surgery, which caused him to miss the entire 2021 season. The Cubs released him from their organization in March 2022. Following his release, Richan has not signed with another MLB or affiliated team.
Personal life
Information regarding Richan’s personal life, including post‑baseball activities, has not been widely reported.
References
- Chicago Cubs draft history, 2017 MLB Draft.
- Minor League Baseball statistics (MiLB.com) – player profile for Paul Richan.
- MLB.com game logs – Paul Richan, 2020 season.
Note: All details are derived from publicly available professional baseball records.