{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1997)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name = Ricky Karcher |image = Ricky Karcher (53160831598) (cropped).jpg |caption = Karcher with the Louisville Bats in 2023 |team = Free agent |number = |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 who is a free agent. 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Prior to his senior year of high school his family relocated to Saline, Michigan, and he transferred to Saline High School.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In his lone season at Saline, Karcher had a 9–0 win–loss record with 0.41 earned run average (ERA).<ref>{{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}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Karcher went 7–3 with a 4.27 ERA in 15 appearances with 12 starts in his lone season at Walters State.<ref name=daytonpreview/>
==Professional career== ===Cincinnati Reds=== The Cincinnati Reds selected Karcher in the 13th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name=daytonpreview/> Karcher did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
He began the 2021 season with the Daytona Tortugas of Low-A Southeast and was moved to the bullpen.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He made nine appearances and struck out 19 batters with Daytona before being promoted to the High-A Dayton Dragons.<ref name=daytonpreview>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> On November 15, 2022, the Reds added Karcher to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
Karcher was optioned to the Triple-A Louisville Bats to begin the 2023 season.<ref>{{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}}</ref> On June 9, 2023, he was promoted to the major leagues for the first time after Graham Ashcraft was placed on the injured list.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Louisville on July 10.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Karcher elected free agency following the season on November 6.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
===Arizona Diamondbacks=== On November 17, 2023, Karcher signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Transactions |url=https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/roster/transactions/2023/11 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-06-16</ref>
===Kansas City Royals=== On July 4, 2024, Karcher signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals organization.<ref>https://www.milb.com/player/ricky-karcher-676689</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
===Diablos Rojos del México=== On February 28, 2025, Karcher signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/beisbolpuro/status/1895618891440865572?s=46&t=UN5XGiNzRq3-vt33N7zCTw|title=x.com}}</ref> In 12 appearances for the team, he posted a 4-0 record and 5.79 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 14 innings of relief.
===Saraperos de Saltillo=== On May 21, 2025, Karcher, Ian Krol, and Alex Claudio were traded to the Saraperos de Saltillo in exchange for Deolis Guerra.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 21 de mayo de 2025|url=https://lmb.com.mx/noticias/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-21-de-mayo-de-2025|access-date=May 22, 2025|website=lmb.com.mx|language=es}}</ref> In 18 appearances for Saltillo, he posted a 2-1 record and 4.41 ERA with 17 strikeouts and three saves across {{fraction|16|1|3}} innings pitched. Karcher was released by the Saraperos on July 14.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 14 de julio de 2025|url=https://lmb.com.mx/noticias/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-14-de-julio-de-2025|access-date=July 18, 2025|website=lmb.com.mx|language=es}}</ref>
===El Águila de Veracruz=== On February 18, 2026, Karcher signed with El Águila de Veracruz of the Mexican League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elaguilabeisbol.com/noticia/karcher-y-su-velocidad-llegan-a-el-aguila|title=Karcher y su velocidad llegan a El Águila|website=elaguilabeisbol.com|date=February 18, 2026|language=Spanish|access-date=February 19, 2026}}</ref> He made one appearance for Veracruz, taking the loss after allowing one run with no strikeouts and failing to record an out. Karcher was released by the team on April 29.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 29 de abril de 2026|url=https://lmb.com.mx/noticias/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-29-de-abril-de-2026|access-date=May 16, 2026|website=lmb.com.mx|language=es}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{baseballstats|mlb=676689|espn=5116837|br=k/karchri01|fangraphs=23449|brm=karche002ric|retro=K/Pkarcr001}} *[https://mgoblue.com/sports/baseball/roster/ricky-karcher/114 Michigan Wolverines bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Karcher, Ricky}} Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:American expatriate baseball players in Mexico Category:Arizona League Reds players Category:Baseball players from St. Johns County, Florida Category:Baseball players from Washtenaw County, Michigan Category:Billings Mustangs players Category:Chattanooga Lookouts players Category:Cincinnati Reds players Category:Danville Dans players Category:Dayton Dragons players Category:Daytona Tortugas players Category:Diablos Rojos del México players Category:El Águila de Veracruz players Category:Greeneville Reds players Category:Louisville Bats players Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Michigan Wolverines baseball players Category:People from Saline, Michigan Category:Reno Aces players Category:Saraperos de Saltillo players Category:Walters State Senators baseball players