BHS grad Ritchie dazzles in MLB debut, earns first win
Published 1:30 am Thursday, April 23, 2026
2022 Bainbridge High School graduate JR Ritchie dazzled in his MLB debut for the Atlanta Braves, pitching seven innings, striking out seven batters, and only giving up two runs on the road to earn his first win against the Washington Nationals April 23.
“I loved every second of it,” Ritchie said. “I got to go out before (the game) started during my pregame routine and kind of just walk around the field a little bit and kind of be able to take it in.”
The game didn’t get off to a great start for Ritchie as the first pitch he ever threw in the big leagues was hit for a home run by Nationals left fielder James Wood. However, the rookie right-hander settled in like a veteran, retiring the next three batters to get out of the first inning. The other run he gave up was also via a solo home run by Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams in the fourth inning. Other than that, it was a flawless outing by Ritchie, who threw 89 pitches in total, including 54 strikes.
“I feel like I threw the ball well,” Ritchie said. “I think the first pitch was a good learning experience for me.”
It was a family affair at the game as well, with Ritchie’s mom, dad, brother and fiancée all in attendance.
“It’s pretty awesome to have the flood of energy and support from people from Bainbridge Island and all of Kitsap County,” Ian Ritchie, JR’s dad, said.
Ritchie’s arsenal features a high-powered four-seam fastball that reached 97 miles per hour during the game, along with a slider, changeup and a curveball, all of which he used to earn strikeouts and weak contact during his first start.
Currently on a “start-to-start basis,” Ritchie’s next outing will come against the Detroit Tigers April 29. There’s also a chance he could pitch in the first week of May against the Mariners in Seattle, which would serve as a homecoming of sorts for Ritchie. The Braves are tied for the best record in the MLB at 20-9 as of April 28.
Ritchie, 22, was recently called up from the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate, Gwinnett Stripers, where he had posted a 0.99 ERA with 28 strikeouts in five starts this season.
During spring training, Ritchie built relationships with Braves pitching coach Jeremy Heffner and current Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, as well as other members of the organization who helped him in preparation for his first career start and life in the big leagues in general.
Ritchie noted how veteran Braves pitcher Chris Sale has helped him in how he carries himself on the field and serves as a mentor, citing that Sale is “always open about how he’s feeling.”
The 6-foot-2 right-hander was drafted 35th overall by the Braves in the 2022 MLB draft, marking the highest draft pick of a Kitsap County player since North Kitsap’s Aaron Sele was drafted 23rd overall in 1991 by the Boston Red Sox.
Ritchie had Tommy John Surgery on his right elbow in 2023, but has responded well since coming back from injury in 2025. He has worked his way up through the minor leagues since then and played in the MLB Futures Game last summer.
