Braves' JR Ritchie: Battles control against Mariners
Rotowire
Ritchie allowed three runs on four hits and six walks while striking out two batters over five-plus innings in a no-decision against Seattle on Monday.
The Seattle-born right-hander may have been dealing with some jitters as he battled his control throughout the game and threw just 47 of 93 pitches for strikes. However, Ritchie managed to get through five frames without allowing a run despite walking four batters and hitting another during that span. The free passes finally caught up with him in the sixth; he began the inning by walking the first two batters he faced before serving up a three-run homer to Luke Raley. Ritchie was pulled after that long ball and ended up with a no-decision. The rookie has flashed his potential this year, but walks have been an issue, as he has a 13:12 K:BB through 17.1 frames spanning three starts. His spot in the rotation isn't guaranteed if he isn't able improve his control.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Set to start Wednesday
Rotowire
Ritchie will make his next start Wednesday against the Tigers in Atlanta, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Ritchie was exceptional in his major-league debut Thursday against the Nationals, earning a win while tossing seven innings of two-run ball and striking out seven batters. He'll now stick around with the major-league rotation for the time being, with Atlanta deciding to shift Reynaldo Lopez to bullpen in order to allow him to fix some mechanical issues. With Spencer Strider (oblique) on the cusp a return from the 15-day injured list, Atlanta will likely have just one spot in the rotation available for either Ritchie or Martin Perez once Strider is back in the fold.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Added to roster ahead of debut
Rotowire
Atlanta selected Ritchie's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.
Ritchie is set to make his major-league debut Thursday versus the Nationals. The 22-year-old has had a dominant run at Gwinnett to begin the 2026 campaign, collecting a 0.99 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 28:13 K:BB through 27.1 innings spanning five starts. It's likely to be just a spot start for Ritchie, as Spencer Strider (oblique) is due to rejoin the Atlanta rotation next week.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Making MLB debut Thursday
Rotowire
Atlanta will select Ritchie's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Thursday's game against the Nationals, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Considered to be one of the best pitching prospects in Atlanta's farm system, Ritchie has posted a 0.99 ERA and 1.03 WHIP alongside a 28:13 K:BB through 27.1 innings (five starts) at Gwinnett this season. He's now earned the right to make a start with Atlanta and will take on a Nationals offense that ranks second in MLB with 142 runs scored through 25 games. The 22-year-old's time in the majors is likely to be brief, as Spencer Strider (oblique) is nearing the end of his rehab assignment and could return from the injured list next week. However, an impressive outing Thursday could buy Ritchie another start in the big leagues.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Strong start to campaign
Rotowire
Ritchie has posted a 1.72 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB through 15.2 innings over three starts for Triple-A Gwinnett this season.
The 22-year-old right-hander is coming off his best outing of the year so far Tuesday, allowing just one run over seven innings against Nashville with a 7:1 K:BB. Ritchie isn't yet on the 40-man roster and may be behind Didier Fuentes in the pecking order for a promotion as a result if Atlanta needs rotation help, but he's building a string case to make his big-league debut at some point in 2026.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Sharp in spring debut
Rotowire
Ritchie tossed two scoreless, no-hit innings in Atlanta's Grapefruit League game against the Twins on Sunday, walking one and striking out one.
The 22-year-old right-hander tossed 19 of 32 pitches for strikes in his spring debut. Ritchie is knocking on the door of the majors after posting a 3.02 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 61:27 K:BB through 11 starts and 59.2 innings for Triple-A Gwinnett last season, and while Atlanta doesn't want to rush him, he could be an injury or two away from getting thrust into the rotation.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Fans career-high 11 at Gwinnett
Rotowire
Ritchie gave up one hit and two walks over six scoreless innings for Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday. He struck out 11.
The 11 Ks were a career high for the 22-year-old right-hander at any level. Ritchie has made an impressive return from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, beginning the season at High-A and now sitting one promotion away from his big-league debut. Over seven starts for Gwinnett, he's posted a 3.62 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 39:16 K:BB through 37.1 innings, and while Atlanta has little reason to bring him up in September, Ritchie could get an audition for a rotation spot next spring.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Strong start to season
Rotowire
Ritchie has posted a 2.57 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB through 21 innings over four starts for High-A Rome.
The 21-year-old right-hander is looking to stay healthy this year after making a late-season return from Tommy John surgery in 2024. Ritchie's strikeout rate is down in the early going -- he fanned 48 over 42.1 innings between Single-A and High-A last year -- but he built up to 6.2 innings in his most recent outing April 22, allowing two runs on three hits with a 5:0 K:BB. Atlanta won't rush Ritchie up the ladder, but a promotion to Double-A in the second half wouldn't be surprising if he continues to have success in the South Atlantic League.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Ritchie (elbow) allowed one hit and struck out one over two scoreless innings in his first rehab start Monday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League.
Ritchie appeared in his first game since undergoingTommy John surgery last May. Since being taken with the No. 35 overall pick in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, the 20-year-old Ritchie has logged just 29.2 innings in the professional ranks. He's posted a 3.34 ERA and 40:8 K:BB during that time and could move his way up prospect lists if he's able to prove his health and regain his pre-surgery velocity and command.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Headed for Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Ritchie is scheduled to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery Wednesday to repair a moderate UCL tear in his right elbow, Geoff Pontes of Baseball America reports.
In addition to sidelining Ritchie for the remainder of the 2023 campaign, the upcoming procedure is expected to keep the 19-year-old on the shelf for the majority -- if not all -- of the 2024 minor-league season. A 2022 first-round supplemental pick, Ritchie had turned in a 5.40 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB in 13.1 innings over four starts with Single-A Augusta before being deactivated May 11.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Goes on IL
Rotowire
Single-A Augusta placed Ritchie (undisclosed) on its 7-day injured list Thursday.
Ritchie was deactivated five days after he exited his fourth start of the season with an unspecified injury. Over 13.1 innings with Augusta this season, Ritchie owns a 5.40 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Dealing with undisclosed injury
Rotowire
Ritchie left his most recent start for Single-A Augusta with an apparent injury, Garrett Spain of Battery Power reports.
He faced the minimum while striking out six through three innings in his May 6 start against Kannapolis, but he suffered an apparent injury on a pitch in the fourth inning and then missed badly on two pitches before calling for the catcher to come visit. The manager and trainer came out as well and Ritchie left with an undisclosed injury. The 6-foot-2 righty boasts a 25:3 K:BB in 13.1 innings while going around three innings per start for the GreenJackets.
