RADIO
Braves Reassign JR Ritchie to Minor-League Camp
The Atlanta Braves announced on Friday that they reassigned right-handed pitching prospect JR Ritchie to minor-league camp. Even with the Braves dealing with more injuries to their starting rotation, Ritchie will open the 2026 campaign in the minors. The 22-year-old former 35th overall pick in 2022 made his case in spring training, allowing three earned runs on just two hits (one homer) while walking five and striking out 14 in 12 Grapefruit League innings over four appearances. If Ritchie continues to pitch well at Triple-A Gwinnett in 2026, he should be called up at some point to make his major-league debut with the Braves. Per MLB Pipeline, Ritchie is Atlanta's No. 2 prospect. He made strides last year in three minor-league levels to post a 2.64 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 140:54 K:BB in 140 innings over 26 starts. Ritchie has a diverse arsenal that includes a two-seam and four-seam fastball, a changeup, a slider, a curveball, and a cutter. He's a name to monitor in deep-mixed leagues in 2026, while he's a high-upside stash in NL-only and dynasty/keeper formats.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Source: Atlanta Braves
