JR Ritchie may have just turned in the performance that puts him at the front of the line as the next one up to Atlanta. The Braves’ No. 2 prospect absolutely dazzled for Triple-A Gwinnett, tossing six shutout innings of one-hit ball while striking out a career-high 11 batters. It was the first double-digit strikeout game of his professional career and the second time since reaching Triple-A that he’s delivered six scoreless innings.
For Ritchie, it was defining. The outing earned him recognition from Baseball America, where prospect analyst Mark Chiarelli noted that “Ritchie’s emergence has been a bright spot” in what has otherwise been a down year for the Gwinnett Stripers. Chiarelli even projected that with continued progress, Ritchie could be knocking on the door of Atlanta’s big-league rotation “as soon as next season.”
A Breakout Season Across the Minors
The numbers for 2025 support that optimism. Between three levels of the minors, Ritchie has put together a 2.75 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP across 117 2/3 innings, with highlight performances like a complete-game one-hitter at Double-A Columbus, where he fanned nine. Since reaching Gwinnett, he’s logged a 3.62 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP in 37 1/3 innings — steady, but with flashes like Monday night that hint at top-of-the-rotation potential.
Command hasn’t always been perfect. He’s had outings with five walks and has surrendered multiple home runs in a couple of games. But when his stuff clicks, he looks every bit like the frontline arm scouts projected when Atlanta drafted him in the first round.
Ritchie’s growth has already been showcased on the national stage. He was chosen to represent the Braves in this summer’s All-Star Futures Game, starting the showcase and throwing a scoreless inning. Now, with Triple-A hitters beginning to fall victim to his strikeout stuff, the momentum is clearly building toward a 2026 debut.
The Braves Rotation Door is Open
The timing couldn’t be better. Atlanta’s 2026 rotation picture has some uncertainty. Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Hurston Waldrep are penciled in, but the fifth spot is very much up for grabs. With injuries thinning depth and no surefire veteran set for that role, Ritchie has a legitimate chance to grab it in Spring Training. Braves fans have seen this before: Reynaldo López earned his spot during Grapefruit League action in 2024, and AJ Smith-Shawver did the same the year prior.
Add in the buzz around younger arms like Cam Caminiti, who also earned mention in Baseball America’s latest report, and Atlanta’s pipeline looks as strong as ever. But Ritchie is the one closest to impact. His combination of stuff, poise, and maturity on the mound makes it easy to envision him wearing a Braves jersey sooner rather than later.
The post Braves No. 2 Prospect Highlighted by Baseball America first appeared on ATL Braves Country.