Kris Richards
Lead Instructor, Baseball New Zealand Development Officer
Kris Richards, brings ten years of player and coaching experience at the: NCAA Division I, MiLB professional, and international levels. Kris is currently the under 15 hitting coach for Baseball New Zealand and lead instructor of the Wellington Baseball Academy. As acting Development Officer, Kris serves as an ambassador of the game to promote baseball interest, understanding and participation to the Greater Wellington region.
Before joining Baseball New Zealand, Kris spent the previous two seasons as the u23 Czech Republic hitting coach and Manager of Kotlářka Praha baseball club in Prague, Czech Republic.
In 2012, Richards began his professional baseball career as a utility infielder with the Baltimore Orioles, an affiliate of Major League Baseball. Within one year Kris was promoted from the Aberdeen Iron Birds (Rookie-A Affiliate) to the Delmarva Shorebirds (Class - A Affiliate). There he achieved early success by learning professional-level baseball techniques from former major leaguers and incorporating them into his baseball training. Kris, achieved status as a versatile utility infielder, prized for the ability to play all positions on the field. In his last spring training, he was converted from a utility infielder to a pitcher where he sustained an elbow injury requiring ‘Tommy John’ surgery. Upon full recovery, Kris was released to pursue coaching opportunities in the Czech Republic.
As a college baseball player (2008-2012), Kris was a four-year scholarship athlete and starter for the Spartans at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). He played in 175 games (142 game starts) as an infielder (2B, SS, 3B) while leading the team in hitting during his sophomore (.307) and senior (.342) seasons. In his final season with the Spartans, Kris put up career numbers with a .342 batting average, 34 runs scored, 63 hits and 15 doubles. He ranked second on the team with 93 total bases, 5 home runs, 8 stolen bases and an impressive .505 slugging percentage. Kris, graduated from UNCG in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology Exercise Sports Science.
Raised in Garner, North Carolina, USA, Kris was a four-sport athlete while attending West Johnston High School and received numerous achievement awards for athletics and academics. Kris is the son of David and KeriAnne Richards. He has one brother, Peyton, who plays on the West Johnston High School Varsity Baseball team as the starting catcher. Kris, is an active member of the Association of Professional Ball Players of America (APBPA) and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).
Before joining Baseball New Zealand, Kris spent the previous two seasons as the u23 Czech Republic hitting coach and Manager of Kotlářka Praha baseball club in Prague, Czech Republic.
In 2012, Richards began his professional baseball career as a utility infielder with the Baltimore Orioles, an affiliate of Major League Baseball. Within one year Kris was promoted from the Aberdeen Iron Birds (Rookie-A Affiliate) to the Delmarva Shorebirds (Class - A Affiliate). There he achieved early success by learning professional-level baseball techniques from former major leaguers and incorporating them into his baseball training. Kris, achieved status as a versatile utility infielder, prized for the ability to play all positions on the field. In his last spring training, he was converted from a utility infielder to a pitcher where he sustained an elbow injury requiring ‘Tommy John’ surgery. Upon full recovery, Kris was released to pursue coaching opportunities in the Czech Republic.
As a college baseball player (2008-2012), Kris was a four-year scholarship athlete and starter for the Spartans at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). He played in 175 games (142 game starts) as an infielder (2B, SS, 3B) while leading the team in hitting during his sophomore (.307) and senior (.342) seasons. In his final season with the Spartans, Kris put up career numbers with a .342 batting average, 34 runs scored, 63 hits and 15 doubles. He ranked second on the team with 93 total bases, 5 home runs, 8 stolen bases and an impressive .505 slugging percentage. Kris, graduated from UNCG in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology Exercise Sports Science.
Raised in Garner, North Carolina, USA, Kris was a four-sport athlete while attending West Johnston High School and received numerous achievement awards for athletics and academics. Kris is the son of David and KeriAnne Richards. He has one brother, Peyton, who plays on the West Johnston High School Varsity Baseball team as the starting catcher. Kris, is an active member of the Association of Professional Ball Players of America (APBPA) and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).
