A Career on the Mound

Born in Southern California, Paul Richan's journey in baseball began at a young age, where he developed into a standout pitcher in high school. His senior year was marked by an impressive 5–2 record with a 1.65 ERA and 71 strikeouts, catching the attention of college scouts.

At the University of San Diego, Paul continued to excel. During his junior year in 2018, he struck out 101 batters over 89.2 innings, averaging 10.14 strikeouts per nine innings while walking just 13—a testament to his command and precision on the mound.

His performance earned him a selection by the Chicago Cubs in the second round (78th overall) of the 2018 MLB Draft. Paul began his professional career with the Eugene Emeralds and was later traded to the Detroit Tigers organization as part of a deal for Nicholas Castellanos. He advanced to the Double-A level in 2021 before a shoulder injury required surgery, ultimately leading to his retirement from professional baseball in 2022.

Transition to Technology

After his baseball career, Paul didn't leave the game behind—instead, he found a new way to contribute. He became a self-taught full-stack web developer, combining his passion for baseball with his newfound technical skills.

As a Full Stack Web Developer at DS Sports, Paul worked on software for hardware that captures ball flight data for baseball and softball—helping players and coaches understand the science behind the game. In April 2024, he joined the Milwaukee Brewers as a Software Engineer, developing tools to assist scouts and coaches in making data-driven decisions.

This unique combination of professional baseball experience and software engineering expertise gives Paul a rare perspective on how technology can enhance player development and make quality coaching more accessible.

The Mission Behind Backfields

Throughout his career—from high school standout to professional pitcher to software engineer—Paul witnessed firsthand the challenges players face when trying to find quality instruction. Great coaches exist everywhere, but connecting players with the right instructor at the right time has always been difficult.

Backfields was born from this frustration. Paul envisioned a platform that would:

• Make it easy for players and parents to discover verified, professional coaches in their area
• Provide coaches with the tools they need to manage their business, schedule lessons, and grow their client base
• Ensure secure, seamless booking and payment processing so coaches can focus on what they do best: teaching the game
• Create a trusted marketplace where quality instruction is accessible to everyone, regardless of location or background

Today, Backfields connects players and parents with verified professional coaches across the country, making it easier than ever to find quality instruction and take your game to the next level.