Ritchie lives on Bainbridge Island, Washington, where he attended Bainbridge High School.[1] His sophomore season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] During that year, Ritchie added 20 pounds of muscle to his build, which resulted in increased velocity on his pitches.[3] He was named the Gatorade Washington Baseball Player of the Year as a junior after he went 6–0 record with a 0.38 earned run average (ERA) and 54 strikeouts in 23+2⁄3 innings pitched while also batting .531 with 24 runs scored.[4] He committed to play college baseballatUCLA.[5] Ritchie emerged as high-round prospect for the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft during his senior season.[6][7] He finished his senior season with a 7–0 win–loss record, yielding two earned runs, 12 hits, 74 strikeouts, and four walks in 35+1⁄3 innings pitched.[8] Following the end of his senior season, Ritchie participated in the 2022 Draft Combine.[9]
Ritchie was selected by the Atlanta Braves with the 35th overall selection of the 2022 MLB draft.[10][11] He signed with the team and received an over-slot signing bonus of $2.4 million.[12] He made five starts split between the rookie-level Florida Complex League Braves and the Single-A Augusta GreenJackets, posting a 1.88 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 14+1⁄3 innings pitched.[13]
In 2023, Ritchie returned to Augusta, making four starts and registering a 5.40 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 13+1⁄3 innings of work. He last pitched on May 6, and later that month, it was reported that Ritchie would undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a moderate UCL tear in his right elbow and miss the remainder of the season.[14]
^Zeller-Singh, Nicholas (April 14, 2023). "Ritchie looks to spring into Single A action". Kitsap Daily News. Retrieved June 15, 2023. Ritchie made his professional debut in the rookie league for the Florida Complex League Braves. In his two games, he pitched 4+1⁄3 innings, gave up no earned runs and had four strikeouts. ... Ritchie made his debut in the fall league with four scoreless innings and led the GreenJackets to a 9–1 victory. In 2022, Ritchie pitched 10 total innings with a 2.70 ERA and 10 strikeouts in Single A. His spring debut included three innings pitched, no hits, no runs and seven strikeouts.
^Toscano, Justin (May 24, 2023). "JR Ritchie, a top Braves prospect, to undergo Tommy John surgery". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved June 18, 2023. Ritchie had not pitched since May 6, when he allowed a run over 3+2⁄3 innings. He struck out seven batters and walked one. The Braves put Ritchie on the injured list with an elbow injury. As recently as Sunday, they still were evaluating Ritchie.
