MLB Pipeline names Braves Prospects of the Year

MLB Pipeline has named each organization’s Prospects of the Year, with standout pitcher JR Ritchie and third baseman David McCabe receiving the honors for the Braves.

David McCabe, 3B (No. 29): McCabe won this honor in 2023, but he missed nearly all of the 2024 season following Tommy John surgery. He spent most of the year with Double-A Columbus, earning a promotion after posting an OPS of .813 over 105 games. Overall, he hit a combined .275/.376/.426 with 14 homers, leading the organization with his 132 wRC+

JR Ritchie, RHP (ATL No. 2/MLB No. 86): The 2025 Futures Game starter in Atlanta, Ritchie has made his 2023 Tommy John surgery a distant memory. He pitched his way from High-A to Triple-A and finished with a combined 2.64 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, .174 BAA and 140 K’s in 140 innings.

JR Ritchie was the Braves most impressive prospect by a considerable large margin. He began the year in High-A Rome and rocketed all the way to Triple-A Gwinnett without ever really missing a beat. Ritchie also starred in the Futures Game, flashing a legitimate five-pitch mix highlighted by a fastball sitting around 97 mph.

What makes Ritchie’s campaign even more remarkable is that this was essentially his first full season of professional baseball. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023, he made only 11 starts last year, totaling 49.2 innings. This season, he threw 140 innings without showing any signs of slowing down. In fact, he seemed to get better as the season went on. Ritchie has firmly placed himself in the conversation for a rotation spot heading into Spring Training and will almost certainly make his major league debut at some point in 2026.

It’s also great to see David McCabe getting some recognition. Once viewed as a promising prospect, his momentum was derailed by Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss most of last season. He struggled mightily in his brief return, hitting just .137 over 35 games.

At 25 years old, this was a make-or-break season for McCabe, and he delivered in a big way. He posted the best wRC+ of any hitter in the Braves organization, hitting .275 with 14 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A. McCabe will be a name to watch next season, though his defensive limitations could make it difficult for him to carve out consistent playing time in Atlanta.