There is starting to be increased buzz at the Atlanta Braves‘ spring camp surrounding top prospect JR Ritchie, who has impressed several reporters and insiders who have given him a closer look.
JR Ritchie has developed strongly in the minors, and that was apparent in 2025 when he pitched to the tune of a 3.02 ERA over 11 starts with Triple-A Gwinnett. From MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, Braves manager Walt Weiss was asked about the possibility of Ritchie breaking camp with the club and being an immediate contributor to this Braves team:
“It’s a process, right?” Weiss said. “I mean, sometimes guys are called up out of necessity, and sometimes they knock the door down and you’ve got to call them up. So, the circumstances can be different from one guy to the next.”
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Drake Baldwin Makes Strong Claim about JR Ritchie
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 27: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves runs to first base after hitting a double in the fourth inning of a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Truist Park on September 27, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images)
Former NL Rookie of the Year, Drake Baldwin, also made a strong claim about JR Ritchie’s arsenal, specifically his changeup:
“I faced him in live [batting practice], and I didn’t see that pitch well either,” said Braves catcher Drake Baldwin. “It’s definitely a good pitch. A good change is tough to hit, and he definitely has a good changeup.”
Ritchie started the 2025 season with High-A Rome, but advanced quickly and ended the season with the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate.
Push might even come to shove for Ritchie, who could get an opportunity if Atlanta deals with any more injuries in the starting rotation.
Atlanta probably doesn’t want to jump the gun with Ritchie and throw him into the fire of the big leagues if he isn’t ready, but considering Bryce Elder’s recent struggles in the past couple of years, it’s not unfathomable to think Ritchie could be a real option for the Braves come June or July.
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Drake Baldwin’s Claim Highlights Ritchie’s Potential
Drake Baldwin, who protects the plate as a catcher, has a better understanding than most about what a good pitch looks like. For him to make a strong claim like this about Ritchie is meaningful.
Ritchie is the Braves’ No.2 overall prospect and ranks as the 90th overall prospect in baseball.
It’s important to note that the Braves have seen recent success out of their homegrown starters (Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, and Grant Holmes). Holmes wasn’t drafted by the Braves, but struggled in the minors for several years with other organizations before finding success with the Braves.
Even veterans like Chris Sale have given Ritchie praise for being mature beyond his years (he’s 22). Ritchie has been up to 96 MPH on his fastball. The Braves would like for his walk-rate to decrease a bit, but there’s no doubting his pitching ability from an arsenal standpoint.
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Drake Baldwin Makes Strong Claim About Hitting Off Braves’ Top Prospect