Royals Acquire Richardson and Boscarino in Blockbuster Trade with Leafs
GUELPH - The Guelph Royals Baseball Club is excited to announce that we have acquired closer Dustin Richardson and outfielder Luca Boscarino from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for infielder Brando Leroux and cash considerations.
Richardson, 42, joins the Royals after a dominant six-season run with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
From 2018 to 2025, the former Boston Red Sox struck out a whopping 179 batters in 95.1 innings, going 6-1 with 15 saves and a lifetime ERA of 2.36.
His best season in the IBL came, arguably, in 2025, when he struck out a staggering 17 batters in just 9.2 innings.
His most notable performance came against the Royals, when he struck out the side with the bases loaded and no one out in a June 6th contest against his now current team.
The Newton, Kansas native, prior to his time in the IBL, pitched in 29 big league games for the Red Sox and pitched 149 games in Triple-A.
Boscarino, 23, joins the Royals after spending his first two seasons in the league with Toronto.
The Mississauga, Ontario native is a year removed from a dominant senior season at Reinhardt, where he batted .290 with eight home runs
Royals assistant general manager Ryan Eakin said today is an exciting day for the Royals.
"First off, we want to thank Brando for his four seasons of service with us. He is an elite defender, has already been in All-Star in this league, and is a great person. We did not want to trade Brando, but it became clear over the last couple of months that a deal with Toronto was going to have to include him.
"I would also like to thank Leafs general manager Dennis Bailey. This was a long process over the span of many months, but at the end of the day, we both got what we wanted and I think that is the sign of a fair deal.
"As for Dustin, we are so excited to have him here. This was, for me, over three months in the making, but for us as a team, this feels years in the making. We have come so close so many times to getting him. I love his passion, how much he hates to lose, and his presence in the locker room. I truly do think he is the best pitcher this league has ever seen.
"And with Luca, this deal does not happen without his inclusion. He is such a great guy, knows so many of our players, and gives you a professional at-bat. I am so huge on Luca and what his ceiling can be."
Richardson said he is excited for the next chapter.
"I’m excited to be part of a club that values competition and accountability, where opportunities are earned and the focus is on winning."
Boscarino said he cannot wait to be in Guelph for the long haul.
"I’d like to thank Ryan Eakin and the Royals for making this possible. Anytime you get the opportunity to play for a first class organization like Guelph, it’s an absolute blessing and I couldn’t be more excited. I’d like to thank Rob Butler for my time with the Leafs, as I’ll always remember that.
I’m so excited to be joining this specific group in Guelph. The culture this team has created is something that can’t be found in this league and I can’t wait to join that culture and add to it. Being in that locker room will be one of the best places to be in Ontario this summer and I can’t stop smiling thinking about that.
"Being reunited with a lot of my former coaches and past teammates is the cherry on top of this all. Getting to play for Dino Roumel and Sean Travers, who were my coaches at the Ontario Blue Jays, and with Tops {Damon Topolie], who are all big mentors on and off the field in my life is awesome. Getting to share the field with Conner Morro, Tak [Garrett Takamatsu], and other guys who I looked up to when I was a youth athlete is also a full circle moment for me and I can’t be more grateful it’s happening.
"I’m looking forward to helping this team bring a championship to the great city of Guelph. I’m hoping September includes the Guelph Royals baseball team on a double decker bus with the Dominco Cup riding down MacDonell St.
"Guelph has the passion and I can’t wait to go to war between the lines for the guys and organization this summer!"