Antoan Richardson

Antoan Edward Richardson (born October 8, 1983) is a Bahamian-American former professional baseball outfielder who currently serves as the first base coach for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Braves and New York Yankees. Before his professional career, he played college baseball at Palm Beach Community College and Vanderbilt University. Richardson served as the first base coach for the San Francisco Giants from 2020 to 2023, as the first base coach for the New York Mets from 2024 to 2025 and as the bench coach for the 2023 Great Britain national baseball team.

Personal Richardson was born in Nassau, in the Bahamas. He grew up in the Bahamas, raised by his single mother and grandparents. Richardson is a citizen of both the Bahamas and the United States.

In seventh grade, he was cut from his school's softball team. As a senior he was named to the 2001 Class 1A All-state high school baseball second team by the Florida Sports Writers Association.

He then attended Palm Beach Community College on an athletic scholarship, passing up an opportunity to attend Brown University on full scholarship. Richardson next attended Vanderbilt University, where he played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team from 2004 to 2005. He was drafted in the 27th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball draft out of high school, the 27th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft, the 13th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft, and the 35th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft. In 2004, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod Baseball League. In December 2008 he earned his engineering science degree from Vanderbilt. In 2006 he batted .292/.381/.366 with 7 sacrifice hits (tied for 7th in the league) and 66 stolen bases (3rd) in 418 at-bats for the Augusta GreenJackets of the Single-A California League. In 2008 he batted .241/.356/.329 with 12 hit by pitch (leading the league), 10 sacrifice hits (6th), and 33 stolen bases (leading the league) in 365 at-bats for the Connecticut Defenders of the Double-A Eastern League.

Schaumburg Flyers He then played for the remainder of 2009 and the beginning of 2010 for the Schaumburg Flyers of the independent Northern League. In 2009 he batted .287/.419/.404 with 20 stolen bases in 94 at-bats, and in 2010 Richardson batted .375/.474/.438 in 16 at-bats.

Atlanta Braves In May 2010, Richardson signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. In the remainder of the 2010 season he played primarily for the Mississippi Braves in the Double-A Southern League, batting .279/.393 (10th in the league)/.316 with 12 hit by pitch (4th) and 24 stolen bases in 272 at-bats. He became the sixth player from the Bahamas to play in the major leagues.

Baltimore Orioles On December 31, 2011, Richardson signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles.

On September 25, Richardson pinch-ran for Jose Pirela in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles. He scored the winning run on a walk-off single by Derek Jeter in the final Yankee Stadium at bat of Jeter's career. Overall, for the season, he had five hits in 16 at-bats (.313 batting average), along with five stolen bases without being caught. After the season, he was outrighted off the Yankees roster. He underwent back surgery for a bulging spinal disk on March 27, 2015, and was placed on the 60-day disabled list on April 2. During rehab in Triple-A in July he was hit by a pitch and suffered a broken foot. For the 2015 season, he had only 37 at-bats between the rookie-level Arizona League Rangers and Triple-A Round Rock Express.

Pittsburgh Pirates Richardson signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 2016 season, and the Pirates invited Richardson to spring training. He had 16 at bats for the Indianapolis Indians and was released on April 25, 2016.

Los Angeles Dodgers Richardson signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 29, 2016, after being released by the Pirates just two days prior. The Dodgers subsequently released him on June 22, after he hit .222 in 15 games for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers.

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs On July 8, 2016, Richardson signed with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 34 appearances for the Blue Crabs, Richardson slashed .200/.351/.222 with one RBI and 11 stolen bases.

Richardson retired from professional baseball on March 7, 2017, at 33 years of age.

On December 23, 2019, Richardson was named the first-base coach of the San Francisco Giants under new manager Gabe Kapler, with the added responsibility of coaching Giants baserunners and outfielders.

On November 10, 2023, following the hiring of Matt Williams as third base coach of the Giants for the 2024 season, former third base coach Mark Hallberg was named first base coach, replacing Richardson.

New York Mets On November 22, 2023, Richardson was hired by the New York Mets to be their first base coach for the 2024 season. On October 27, 2025, it was announced that Richardson would not return to the Mets in 2026, despite New York making a strong effort to retain him.

Atlanta Braves On November 5, 2025, Richardson was hired by the Atlanta Braves as their first base coach, replacing Tom Goodwin.