JR Ritchie Makes Atlanta Braves History in Team Debut During Nationals Game

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Atlanta Braves top prospect JR Ritchis has finally made his way to Major League Baseball after excelling at the Triple-A level. The Braves defeated the Washington Nationals on Thursday to win three of four in the four-game series, and improved to 18-8.

After a horrid start last season, the Braves’ awesome start to 2026 is quite poetic. Also on Thursday, JR Ritchie turned in an excelling out after surrendering a home run on the very first pitch of his big league career. Ritchie got through seven innings, gave up five hits, two earned runs, walked two batters, and struck out seven batters. He also made team history in the process.

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JR Ritchie Makes Braves History in Debut

GettyLOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 17: Lauren Gardner talks with JR Ritchie, who was picked 35th by the Atlanta Braves, during the first round at the 2022 MLB Draft at XBOX Plaza on July 17, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, the Braves reporter wrote (following the Thursday afternoon game): “Ritchie is the first Braves pitcher to allow 2 runs or fewer over 7+ innings in his MLB debut since Matt Wisler in 2015. Only others to do this since 1990 are Horacio Ramirez (2003), David Nied (1992) and Paul Marak (1990).”

He may have even forced manager Walt Weiss’s hand in keeping him at the big league level. There’s always a roster move imminent, so he may return to Triple-A for the time being, but his stellar start is undeniable, and he’s likely the first starter up if another arm needs either a rest, or hits the IL.

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Braves World Reacts to JR Ritchie’s Stellar Start

As you can imagine, JR Ritchie’s first start in MLB being a dandy has drawn a strong reaction from many Braves fans and analysts across the social media landscape.

Here are some of the best:

@Braves: “JR Ritchie today became the first pitcher in franchise history to complete at least 7.0 innings while allowing no more than two runs and striking out at least seven in his major league debut.”

Quite the debut for the 22-year-old from Bainbridge, Washington.

@ChadBishop: “JR Ritchie in his MLB debut: 7 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 7 Ks, 89 pitches (54 strikes), 17 first-pitch strikes, nine whiffs”

@AaronTSchmidt:

“#Braves RHP JR Ritchieâs first MLB start: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 89 pitches (54 strikes) A couple of mistakes to Nationals lefties James Wood and CJ Abrams, but overall a great way to open a career in the majors. Braves up 6-2. Ritchie in line for his first MLB win.”

@CrosbyBaseball: “Okay, I’m sold – JR Ritchie’s a dawg and you gotta let him make another start. Kid’s through seven innings with two runs (both on solo homers) with two walks and seven strikeouts. 89 pitches (54 strikes).”

@MLBPipeline: “7 K’s in 7 IP! MLB’s No. 79 prospect JR Ritchie mixes in his four-seamer with filthy offspeed stuff to twirl a quality start for the Braves in his big league debut.”

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