Richard Tyler "Dicky" Lovelady (born July 7, 1995), an American professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

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for the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...

, and

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...

. Lovelady was selected by the Royals in the 10th round of the

2016 MLB draft The 2016 Major League Baseball draft began on June 9, 2016, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The draft order is the reverse order of the 2015 MLB season standings. In addition, compensation picks were distributed for players who ...

Amateur career

Lovelady attended First Presbyterian Christian Academy in

Hinesville, Georgia Hinesville is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia and is located on the Atlantic coastal plain. The county seat of Liberty County, Georgia, Liberty County, it had a population of 34,891 at the 2020 United States census, 202 ...

and played

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played by Student athlete, student-athletes at institutions of higher education. In the United States, college baseball is sanctioned mainly by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); in Japan, ...

at East Georgia State College and

Kennesaw State University Kennesaw State University (KSU) is a public research university in the U.S. state of Georgia with two campuses in the Atlanta metropolitan area, one in the Kennesaw area and the other in Marietta on a combined of land. The school was founded ...

. He was drafted by the

in the 10th round of the

2016 Major League Baseball draft The 2016 Major League Baseball draft began on June 9, 2016, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The draft order is the reverse order of the 2015 MLB season standings. In addition, compensation picks were distributed for players who ...

Professional career

Kansas City Royals

Lovelady made his professional debut with the Arizona League Royals and was promoted to the

Idaho Falls Chukars The Idaho Falls Chukars are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB Partner League. They are located in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and play their home games at Melaleu ...

during the season; in 25 total relief innings pitched between both teams, he posted a 2-1 record, 1.80 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP In 2017, he spent time with both the

Wilmington Blue Rocks The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Wilmington, Delaware, and play their home games at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium. Fra ...

and the

Northwest Arkansas Naturals The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springdale, Arkansas, Springdale, Arkansas. The team is a member of the Texas League, and serves as the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. T ...

, pitching to a combined 4-2 record and 1.62 ERA in total relief innings pitched. Lovelady spent 2018 with the

Omaha Storm Chasers The Omaha Storm Chasers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They are located in Papillion, Nebraska, a suburb southwest of Omaha, Nebraska, Omah ...

, going 3-3 with a 2.47 ERA in 46 relief appearances. In 2019, he opened the season with Omaha. Lovelady was promoted to the majors for the first time on April 9, 2019. He made his major league debut against the

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...

that evening, recording two strikeouts in one inning of relief. Lovelady made 1 appearance for the Royals in 2020, giving up one run over one inning pitched. In 20 appearances for the Royals in 2021, Lovelady recorded a 3.48 ERA in 20 appearances for the team. On September 30, 2021, Lovelady underwent

Tommy John surgery Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, sometimes referred to as Tommy John surgery is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's body, ...

, which wiped him out for the entire 2022 season. On November 30, Lovelady was non-tendered by the Royals, making him a free agent. He was re-signed by the Royals the next day on a minor league contract. On November 10, 2022, Lovelady was selected to the 40-man roster to be protected from the

Rule 5 draft The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball (MLB) player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor lea ...

. He was optioned to Triple-A Omaha to begin the 2023 season.

Atlanta Braves

On March 30, 2023, Lovelady was traded to the

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...

in exchange for cash and was optioned to the Triple-A

Gwinnett Stripers The Gwinnett Stripers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They play their home games at Coolray Field in unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia ...

. He appeared in 4 games for Gwinnett, recording a 7.20 ERA with 4 strikeouts in 5 innings pitched.

Oakland Athletics

On April 13, 2023, Lovelady was claimed off waivers by the

. In 27 games for Oakland, he posted a 4.63 ERA with 24 strikeouts in innings pitched. On July 23, manager

Mark Kotsay Mark Steven Kotsay (born December 2, 1975) is an American professional baseball manager and former outfielder. He is the manager for the Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). As a player, Kotsay appeared in 1,914 MLB games for the San Diego ...

announced that Lovelady would not return in 2023 after suffering a strain of the pronator muscle in his left forearm. On October 4, Lovelady was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A

Las Vegas Aviators The Las Vegas Aviators, formerly known as the Las Vegas 51s and Las Vegas Stars, are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics. They are located in Summerlin South, Nevada, a comm ...

. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.

Chicago Cubs

On January 31, 2024, Lovelady signed a minor league contract with the

. After 10 appearances for the Triple–A

Iowa Cubs The Iowa Cubs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. They are located in Des Moines, Iowa, and are named for their Major League Baseball (MLB) affiliate. T ...

, Lovelady was added to Chicago's major league roster on April 28. In 7 appearances for Chicago, he struggled to a 7.94 ERA with 6 strikeouts across innings pitched. On May 14, Lovelady was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...

by the Cubs.

Tampa Bay Rays

On May 18, 2024, the Cubs traded Lovelady to the

in exchange for Jeff Belge. In 28 appearances for Tampa Bay, he compiled a 3–5 record and 3.77 ERA with 20 strikeouts and 2 saves over innings pitched. On November 19, Lovelady was designated for assignment by the Rays after

Jake Mangum Jake Thomas Mangum (born March 8, 1996) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Early life and high school Mangum was b ...

was added to the roster. Three days later, the Rays non–tendered Lovelady, making him a free agent.

Toronto Blue Jays

On January 22, 2025, Lovelady signed a minor league contract with the

. On March 17, the Blue Jays selected Lovelady's contract. In 2 appearances for Toronto, he struggled to an 0-1 record and 21.60 ERA with 3 strikeouts across innings pitched. Lovelady was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on March 30. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A

Buffalo Bisons The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen Fiel ...

on April 3. However, Lovelady rejected the assignment and elected free agency the following day.

Minnesota Twins

On April 8, 2025, Lovelady signed a minor league contract with the

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...

. In 19 appearances for the Triple-A

St. Paul Saints The St. Paul Saints are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and have played their home games at CHS Field since 2015. They previ ...

, he logged an 0-1 record and 1.31 ERA with 22 strikeouts and six saves across innings pitched. Lovelady opted out of his contract and was released by the Twins organization on June 18.

New York Mets

On June 23, 2025, Lovelady signed a one-year, major league contract with the

. On the same day, Lovelady requested to be known as "Dicky Lovelady" in media statements and in other unofficial contexts. He made one appearance for the team, allowing two runs in innings against the

. Lovelady was designated for assignment by the Mets on June 25. He elected free agency after clearing waivers on June 27. On June 29, Lovelady re-signed with the Mets on a new major league contract.

Personal life

Lovelady and his wife, Maddie, married in 2019.

References

External links

Kennesaw State Owls bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lovelady, Richard 1995 births Living people Arizona League Royals players Baseball players from Georgia (U.S. state) Chicago Cubs players Durham Bulls players Florida Complex League Rays players Gwinnett Stripers players Idaho Falls Chukars players Iowa Cubs players Kansas City Royals players Kennesaw State Owls baseball players Major League Baseball pitchers New York Mets players Northwest Arkansas Naturals players Oakland Athletics players Omaha Storm Chasers players People from Hinesville, Georgia St. Paul Saints players Stockton Ports players Tampa Bay Rays players Toronto Blue Jays players Wilmington Blue Rocks players