Zade Richardson is hitting better than he ever has, and he's doing it 25 minutes from the house where he grew up.

The Florence Y'alls catcher is batting .293 with 23 home runs, 87 RBI, 18 stolen bases and an .899 OPS through early August, all career highs. The 2019 New Richmond High School graduate, drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 22nd round that same year, moved through three organizations before landing with the Y'alls. Now in his fourth season at Thomas More Stadium, Richardson is putting together the kind of year that once seemed out of reach.

"It's literally home," Richardson told florenceyalls.com on Aug. 5. "I'm 25, 30 minutes away from home, and the fans, coaches and front office treat me like I am at home as well. I have really found a place where I can anchor down and not only develop … but to be here and be here with purpose."

Richardson spent two years in the Cardinals' minor league system before being released and signing with the Atlanta Braves. Injuries limited him to four plate appearances with the Braves organization, and he elected free agency in November 2022. He briefly considered becoming a fitness influencer before signing with the Quebec Capitals of the Frontier League and eventually being traded to Florence.

His breakout coincides with the arrival of first-year manager Toby Hall, a former big league catcher who played nine years with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. Richardson and Hall previously faced each other as opponents in the Frontier League. Richardson said the relationship was rocky at first but has become something deeper, with Hall taking him under his wing.

Hall's impact extends beyond Richardson. The Y'alls finished 43-53 in 2025, ranking 12th out of 18 Frontier League teams. This season, Florence reached 45-30 before an 11-game winning streak was snapped by the Brockton Rox on Aug. 7. At the team's May 29 home opener, which drew a capacity crowd of 3,349, Hall said he believed the team had the offensive talent and could field it but was still working on figuring out the pitching.

They figured it out.

Off the field, Richardson works as a hitting and catching instructor at Champions Baseball Academy on Linneman Street in Cincinnati, where he coaches youth through high school players across the Greater Cincinnati area. According to the Clermont Sun, he focuses on building character alongside mechanical skills. On July 17, he was photographed talking with fans at Thomas More Stadium after a win over the Mississippi Mud Monsters.

Richardson, who turns 27 in 2027, said he believes he's entering his prime developmental window as a catcher. He also plays winter ball to stay sharp during the offseason. But his focus, he said, isn't on getting himself to the next level anymore. He wants to make sure the young players he coaches and his Y'alls teammates take the next step and go farther than he has.

The Y'alls held a 46-32 record as of Aug. 9, after their road series at Brockton.