One of the Atlanta Braves’ best prospects is rising up the minor league ranks after impressing in his first outings since returning from injury.
Atlanta Braves pitcher JR Ritchie has spent the previous year rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. The Braves took him in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft, and he is currently ranked as Atlanta’s No. 7 prospect in the minor system.
Ritchie returned to the mound for the Augusta GreenJackets in early July and will be promoted to High-A Rome for the final few weeks of the season and playoffs, according to a source.
He has played seven games for Augusta, starting six of them. He has a 1.95 ERA in 32.1 innings and an excellent WHIP of 1.02. He struck out 40 batters and walked only 10.
As expected, he’s been especially tough on opposing batters since August, when he began to stretch out and regain command.
In his last four starts, Ritchie has tossed 20.1 innings, struck out 26 batters, allowed three earned runs (ERA 1.33) and walked only five.
His promotion was fully deserved after crushing batters in Augusta over the past month.
When Ritchie is healthy, he has a potential four-pitch mix and an excellent feel for his repertoire, especially considering his age (Ritchie turned 21 in June). His fastball was normally in the low 90s, and he could reach 95-96 mph, but it was his ability to spin breaking balls that truly set him apart. His slider has developed into a good out pitch, a fast low-80s breaker that misses a lot of bats, but he also throws a decent slower curve. He should have an average changeup with good deception because to his arm speed.
