- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
North Port Today
By the People, for the People
Braves Pitching Prospect Ritchie Shines in Spring Training
JR Ritchie, Atlanta's No. 2 prospect, turns in a dominant outing as the Braves deal with injuries to their starting rotation.
Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:18am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Atlanta Braves are facing injuries to their starting pitching depth, but one of their top prospects, JR Ritchie, has turned in a strong spring training performance that could make him an option for the major league rotation this season. Ritchie, the Braves' No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline's No. 90 overall prospect for 2026, threw four perfect innings of relief, striking out six batters, in the Braves' 1-0 spring training win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Why it matters
The Braves are already dealing with injuries to their starting pitching staff, so Ritchie's impressive spring training outing could put him in position to contribute at the major league level this year if the team needs additional rotation options.
The details
Ritchie, a 2022 first-round draft pick, has posted a 2.25 ERA over 12 innings of work in spring training so far, giving up just two hits and three runs while striking out 14 batters. Last year, he had a 2.64 ERA in 26 starts across three minor league levels, striking out 140 hitters over 140 innings. The 22-year-old made 11 of those starts at Triple-A, where he had a 3.02 ERA in just under 60 innings pitched.
- On Sunday, March 16, 2026, Ritchie turned in his latest dominant spring training outing.
- The 2026 regular season is set to begin in less than two weeks.
The players
JR Ritchie
Atlanta Braves' No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline's No. 90 overall prospect for 2026, a 22-year-old right-handed pitcher.
Didier Fuentes
The Braves' No. 3 prospect, a 20-year-old right-handed pitcher who made his major league debut in 2025.
What’s next
The Braves are expected to have Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo López, Grant Holmes, and Bryce Elder make up their Opening Day starting pitching staff, but Ritchie and Fuentes could be called upon if any of those pitchers suffer injuries.
The takeaway
The Braves' strong farm system, particularly their pitching prospects like Ritchie and Fuentes, could prove crucial this season as the team deals with injuries to their major league starting rotation.
