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Braves #1 pitching prospect receives promotion

Originally posted on SportsTalkATL | By Chase Irle | Last updated Jul 15, 2025 10:45 AM ET

The top pitching prospect in the Braves organization right now is JR Ritchie, and he’ll begin the second half of the season one step closer to Atlanta.

I can confirm this report. JR Ritchie is headed to Gwinnett.

The stripers rotation now features 4 of 5 of the top pitching prospects for Atlanta in Fuentes, Ritchie, Burkhalter, Sears, Waldrep https://t.co/K345aJBpCg

— Gaurav (@gvedak) July 15, 2025

Most recently, Ritchie represented the Braves in the MLB Futures Game over the weekend, tossing a scoreless frame with a couple of strikeouts, highlighted by this 97 MPH paint job.

A 97 MPH fastball for his first strikeout in the All-Star Futures game?

No problem for @Braves' No.6 prospect, JR Ritchie! pic.twitter.com/NLaAnxzpKL

— Columbus Clingstones (@GoClingstones) July 12, 2025

Ritchie pairs that high-90s heater with three other plus-offerings — changeup, curveball, and sinker. He’s also developing a sweeper, giving him a really impressive five-pitch mix as he inches closer to the major league level.

The 22-year-old right-hander has split time this season between High-A Rome and AA Columbus, boasting a combined 2.35 ERA, 0.946 WHIP, and 8.9 K/9. Ritchie has the talent to be a staple in the Braves rotation for years to come and is probably a little more ready for major-league ball than a guy like Didier Fuentes, who just turned 20-years-old before making his MLB debut.

With the Braves desperate for starting arms and unlikely to make the postseason, JR Ritchie is one of several prospect arms that could join Atlanta in the second half of the season.

This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.

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