The future of Atlanta’s pitching staff is about to take center stage. Two of the Braves’ most promising young arms, JR Ritchie and Garrett Baumann, are set to pitch in the Spring Breakout game on Sunday, March 16.
If you’re the type who loves scouting the next wave of talent before they hit the big leagues, this is one to watch.
JR Ritchie: Braves Breakout Candidate Ready to Shine
JR Ritchie, the No. 8 prospect in the Braves system, is expected to get the start. The 20-year-old righty is coming off Tommy John surgery, but you wouldn’t know it from how he pitched last season.
In 12 appearances across three levels of the minors, he posted a 2.90 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and held opponents to a .213 batting average. Let’s not ignore that those 56 strikeouts in just under 50 innings. Not too shabby for someone rebounding from a major procedure.
Scouts love his slider, which grades out as a 60 on the 20-80 scouting scale (translation: it’s nasty). It sits in the low 80s, complementing a 55-grade changeup that keeps hitters off balance.
Baseball America has already pegged him as a prime breakout candidate for 2025. That means the hype is officially real. The Braves clearly saw the potential early, grabbing him with the 35th overall pick in the 2022 amateur draft.
Garrett Baumann: A Rising Star with Power and Precision
Next up, we’ve got Baumann, the No. 9 prospect, who’s expected to follow Ritchie in the game. The 6-foot-8 righty reached High-A Rome late last season after 19 starts with Single-A Augusta.
He posted a solid 3.42 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and racked up 84 strikeouts in 92 innings. When he finally got his shot at High-A, he made the most of it—seven scoreless innings, four hits, no walks, five Ks. Talk about a first impression.
Baumann was the Braves’ fourth-round pick in 2023, and at just 19 years old, he’s already showing the kind of durability and command that make scouts take notice.
What to Expect in the Spring Breakout Game
This Spring Breakout game is about showcasing top young talent, and with 71 of MLB’s top 100 prospects participating last year, it’s quickly becoming a can’t-miss event for baseball fans and scouts alike.
The Braves will host the Detroit Tigers in North Port, and if you’re looking for a sneak peek at what the future holds, keep your eyes locked on Ritchie and Baumann—because these two could be knocking on the big-league door sooner than later.
