JR Ritchie: Braves 2025 Minor League Player Of The Year
The Braves have flooded their system with talented arms in recent years, hoping a couple of them can realize their perceived upside.
Righthander JR Ritchie’s ascension has moved him to the head of the pack.
The 22-year-old pitched superbly in his first full year distanced from having Tommy John surgery. Ritchie threw 140 innings across three affiliates, struck out 140 batters, posted a 2.64 ERA in 26 games and finished the season with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Along the way he started the Futures Game in front of hometown fans at Truist Park.
The Braves drafted the Seattle native out of high school in the supplemental first round in 2022. After having TJS early in 2023, Ritchie returned to action in June 2024. Now, he is poised to make his MLB debut as soon as next season.
Atlanta chose Ritchie with the draft pick it acquired from the Royals in the team’s Drew Waters trade. Former Braves vice president of scouting Dana Brown, who had numerous hits in his Braves drafts, including Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach and Drake Baldwin, admitted at the time he was surprised Ritchie was still available with the 35th pick.
The Braves drafted righthander Owen Murphy in the first round that year.
“We were very shocked that he was there,” Brown said of Ritchie. “(Murphy and Ritchie) were pretty close on our list, but we had Murphy a little higher. So we were a little surprised.”
Ritchie’s fastball velocity had topped out around 98 mph when the Braves drafted him. He started getting closer to that mark again this season as he rebuilds strength. He hovered in the mid 90s and should be in his best form entering spring next year.
Ritchie’s out pitch is his slider, and it will largely determine his ultimate effectiveness. The pitch looks crisp this year. He also throws a changeup.
Much like Schwellenbach, Ritchie makes his mark with how consistently he attacks the strike zone. That could make him a key part of the 2026 Atlanta rotation.
Braves Notes
— Lefthander Cam Caminiti missed the first part of the season with a forearm tendinitis but was on point for Low-A Augusta when he returned in June. The 19-year-old pitched to a 2.08 ERA in 56.1 innings over 13 starts in the Carolina League. He struck out 75 and walked 26, allowing only one home run.
— Righthander Owen Murphy returned from Tommy John surgery this summer, posting a 1.32 ERA in six starts for High-A Rome. The Braves remain high on what Murphy can become. He’ll be an important player to follow in 2026, with a chance to advance several levels as a 22-year-old. The Braves do not shy from giving prospects major league innings if they have an opening.
