Two Braves top prospects make All-Star Futures Game

You don’t see a lot of relievers typically in top 30 prospect rankings, but Hayden Harris deserves all of the love and is one of the most talented arms on the farm. In 24 appearances between AA-AAA, he boasts a 0.61 ERA and is striking out a ridiculous 13.3 batters per nine innings. He’s also yet to allow a run in seven appearances for Gwinnett since receiving a promotion.

The Braves bullpen has been better of late, so there hasn’t been any reason to rush Hayden Harris to the major-league level. However, he’s as ready as he’ll ever be. When an opportunity arises at some point this season in Atlanta, don’t be surprised if he gets the chance to make his MLB debut.

JR Ritchie was the 35th pick of the Braves back in 2022. Tommy John surgery cost him most of the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, but he’s finally back to full strength and looking the part of a first-round pick so far this season. In 14 starts between A+-AA, he owns a 2.51 ERA.

Ritchie is another guy who could potentially make his MLB debut as early as this season. Not because he’s necessarily ready, but the Braves are desperate for starting arms in wake of injuries to AJ Smith-Shawver, Chris Sale, and Reynaldo Lopez. If Didier Fuentes and Bryce Elder continue to struggle, the Braves may be forced to throw a guy like Ritchie into the fire and see if it leads to better results.