Black players born in the United States make up just 6% of Major League Baseball’s opening day rosters this season. The Minnesota Twins’ 2025 roster includes three Black players and a Black coach.
The organization also has two Black pitchers, Alex Speas and Simeon Woods Richardson. Last week, we conducted separate interviews with both.
Speas’s great-grandfather pitched in Negro Leagues
Alex Speas a few years ago took a break from playing pro baseball. The St. Paul Saints’ only Black pitcher vividly recalls why as we sat in the dugout at the team’s St. Paul Lowertown ballpark.
“Going back into 2020, Covid and 2021, I think that was one of those years for me that baseball just wasn’t fun,” Speas recalled. “Felt more like a job than a game, or more like a job that should be fun, and I struggled.”
So, at the age of 21, Speas retired from the game; he was drafted in the second round by Texas in 2016. He took a corporate job for six weeks. As a result, he gradually returned to baseball, beginning by coaching youth.
“I always tell everyone how much I enjoyed reliving the game and watching the little kids run around the field. It reminded me of when I was 10, 12, playing in the outfield, just trying to get the ball to first base and get the kids out.”
Speas, a Georgia native, signed a minor league contract with the Twins in November, marking his sixth MLB organization (Texas, 2016-23; Oakland, 2020; Chicago White Sox, 2024; Houston, 2024; and Boston, 2024). The 6’3″ righthander made his MLB debut with the Rangers in July 2023 and remained with the team long enough to earn a World Series ring at the end of the season.
Speas has found it frustrating to bounce back and forth between the minors and the majors, but he says his love of baseball has returned.
“I will say that God has blessed me with a great fastball, which can reach triple digits. “God blessed me with the ability to throw 100 miles per hour,” said Speas, who missed time in 2018-19 while recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.
Last Friday, in a Saints victory over Omaha, the pitcher retired six consecutive batters, five on strikeouts, tying his career high in 2 1/3 innings while allowing only one hit.
Now all he wants is another chance in the majors. Speas stated that it is important to him for a variety of reasons.
“Looking back, the only person in my family to ever play baseball was my great grandfather, who pitched in the Negro Leagues. I never got to meet him, but being a part of something like that would mean a lot to me, my family, and, honestly, being an example to the young African Americans who will follow us.”
Woods Richardson aims to make “Black Aces” list
For several years, each Major League Baseball player has their own “walk-up” music when they come up to bat. Pitchers have their own music when they arrive at the mound.
Simeon Woods Richardson’s walk-in music is Prince’s “When Doves Cry.”
“I had that thing coming up on a little iPod my cousin left me,” the Texas hurler admitted. “We’re in the hometown of a legend, so you’ve got to show respect. You have to pay homage — hopefully the audience enjoys it and sings along a little.”
Woods Richardson, now in his second season in Minnesota, made his first MLB start last April after beginning the 2024 season with Triple-A St. Paul, where he made three starts for the Saints.
The 24-year-old righthander finished second in Twins history in strikeouts-per-9.0 innings pitched, tied for fifth in all of baseball in strikeouts (26), and second in AL rookie innings pitched.
He wore No. 78 last season, becoming the first player or coach in Twins history to do so, but this season, Woods Richardson is wearing No. 24 to honor both Ken Griffey, Jr. and Kobe Bryant, “my two inspirational guys I looked up to,” he admitted.
One of Woods Richardson’s personal goals is to join the “Black Aces” list of Black MLB pitchers, which includes 15 pitchers who have won at least 20 games in a season. The title comes from Mudcat Grant’s book with the same name. Grant (1935-2021) had a 21-7 record with the Twins in 1965.
“That’s one of my goals,” Woods Richardson stated.
Last Sunday, Woods Richardson improved his record to 1-1 by going five innings and striking out five in the Twins’ 5-1 victory over Detroit.
