JR_Ritchie

JR Ritchie

JR Ritchie

American baseball player

Ian "JR" Ritchie Jr. (born June 26, 2003) is an American pitcher in the Atlanta Braves organization.

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Early life and amateur career

Ritchie lives on Bainbridge Island, Washington, where he attended Bainbridge High School.[1] His sophomore season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] During that year, Ritchie added 20 pounds of muscle to his build, which resulted in increased velocity on his pitches.[3] He was named the Gatorade Washington Baseball Player of the Year as a junior after he went 6–0 record with a 0.38 earned run average (ERA) and 54 strikeouts in 23+2⁄3 innings pitched while also batting .531 with 24 runs scored.[4] He committed to play college baseball at UCLA.[5] Ritchie emerged as high-round prospect for the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft during his senior season.[6][7] He finished his senior season with a 7–0 win–loss record, yielding two earned runs, 12 hits, 74 strikeouts, and four walks in 35+1⁄3 innings pitched.[8] Following the end of his senior season, Ritchie participated in the 2022 Draft Combine.[9]

Professional career

Ritchie was selected by the Atlanta Braves with the 35th overall selection of the 2022 MLB draft.[10][11] He signed with the team and received an over-slot signing bonus of $2.4 million.[12] He made five starts split between the rookie-level Florida Complex League Braves and the Single-A Augusta GreenJackets, posting a 1.88 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 14+1⁄3 innings pitched.[13]

In 2023, Ritchie returned to Augusta, making four starts and registering a 5.40 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 13+1⁄3 innings of work. He last pitched on May 6, and later that month, it was reported that Ritchie would undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a moderate UCL tear in his right elbow and miss the remainder of the season.[14]

References

  1. [1]
    "Is UCLA commit JR Ritchie the best West Sound pitching prospect ever?". Kitsap Sun. September 2, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  2. [2]
    "Because of COVID, many WA high-school seniors getting first shot at state competition". The Seattle Times. May 27, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  3. [3]
    Lantz, Shane (July 15, 2022). "Bainbridge's JR Ritchie and his power arm expected to go early in MLB draft". Seattle Times. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  4. [4]
    "BHS sports feeling 'Richie Rich' this spring". Bainbridge Island Review. June 7, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  5. [5]
    Egan, Chris (April 25, 2022). "PREP ZONE: The future is bright for Bainbridge's J.R. Ritchie". KING5.com. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  6. [6]
    Graham, Jeff (April 23, 2022). "Bainbridge baseball star JR Ritchie has a chance to turn to MLB". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  7. [7]
    Law, Keith (June 16, 2022). "Top 100 prospects for MLB Draft 2022: Kumar Rocker rises in Keith Law's updated big board". The Athletic. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  8. [8]
    Graham, Jeff (March 16, 2023). "Baseball Preview: West Sound's top players to watch this spring". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  9. [9]
    Callis, Jim (June 17, 2022). "Five up, five down: Gough K's them all at Combine". MLB.com. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  10. [10]
    Graham, Jeff (July 17, 2022). "Atlanta Braves select Bainbridge Island's JR Ritchie in MLB draft". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  11. [11]
    "Braves Excited by JR Ritchie's Upside Potential". Baseball America. April 14, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  12. [12]
    "Ritchie signs with Braves for $2.4 million". Bainbridge Island Review. July 22, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  13. [13]
    Zeller-Singh, Nicholas (April 14, 2023). "Ritchie looks to spring into Single A action". Kitsap Daily News. Retrieved June 15, 2023. Ritchie made his professional debut in the rookie league for the Florida Complex League Braves. In his two games, he pitched 4+1⁄3 innings, gave up no earned runs and had four strikeouts. ... Ritchie made his debut in the fall league with four scoreless innings and led the GreenJackets to a 9–1 victory. In 2022, Ritchie pitched 10 total innings with a 2.70 ERA and 10 strikeouts in Single A. His spring debut included three innings pitched, no hits, no runs and seven strikeouts.
  14. [14]
    Toscano, Justin (May 24, 2023). "JR Ritchie, a top Braves prospect, to undergo Tommy John surgery". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved June 18, 2023. Ritchie had not pitched since May 6, when he allowed a run over 3+2⁄3 innings. He struck out seven batters and walked one. The Braves put Ritchie on the injured list with an elbow injury. As recently as Sunday, they still were evaluating Ritchie.
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