UPDATE: Braves Promote Two Pitching Prospect Amid Departure Of Multiple Starters in Free Agency
The Atlanta Braves are challenging some of their top pitching prospects with new assignments as the 2024 season comes to a close, anticipating potential needs for the 2025 campaign. With the possible departures of key starters Max Fried and Charlie Morton—who might retire if he doesn’t return to Atlanta—the Braves are preparing for the possibility of needing additional reinforcements in their rotation next season.
In light of this, the team promoted two of their top pitching prospects this afternoon. One is moving up to Triple-A Gwinnett, while The other advances from Single-A Augusta to High-A Rome. Ones, 22, is ranked as Atlanta’s No. 9 prospect by MLB Pipeline. A second-round pick in the 2023 draft out of Virginia Tech, the right-hander began the 2024 season in High-A Rome and quickly progressed through the system. During his time with the Rome Emperors, he posted a 3-3 record with a 3.64 ERA across twelve starts, allowing just two home runs over 59.1 innings with a strikeout rate of 9.4 K/9.
Upon his promotion to Double-A Mississippi, He improved further, going 3-2 with a 3.13 ERA in 46 innings and increasing his strikeout rate to 12.5 K/9. Notably, Trustmark Field, home of the Mississippi Braves, is known as one of the toughest minor league parks for hitting home runs. With a home run park factor of 54 (on a scale where 100 is league average), it ranks as the second-lowest in the minors, just ahead of the Tri-City Dust Devils, the Angels’ High-A affiliate.
Gwinnett’s rotation currently features top prospects AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep, Tommy John rehabber Ian Anderson, MLB veteran Bryce Elder, Allan Winans, and Hackenberg.
Hackenberg, 22, started the season in High-A Rome and made 9 starts in AA Mississippi before being promoted.
Combined stats: 6-5, 3.42 ERA in 21 starts. Struck out 126 with 47 walks in 105.1 innings, with only two homers allowed (both in Rome, obviously) https://t.co/vmvDckssFw
— Lindsay Crosby, big baseball guy (@CrosbyBaseball) August 27, 2024
Ritchie moves up as he returns from TJ
JR Ritchie is still working his way up the ranks. The 21-year-old Ritchie, who returns from Tommy John surgery this season, will move from Single-A Augusta to Rome following seven standout performances for the Emperors. In 32.1 innings, Ritchie went 1-3 with a 1.95 ERA, striking out 40 and walking only 10.
MLB Pipeline’s No. 7 prospect in the Braves’ organization, right-hander JR Ritchie, joined Atlanta in the Competitive Balance-A round of the 2022 MLB Draft, where the team selected two high school pitchers—Ritchie and Owen Murphy. Ritchie was initially considered to be a year behind Murphy in his development, especially after needing Tommy John surgery following just four starts in May 2023. However, Murphy faced his own setback, being shut down after only seven starts this season due to an elbow injury that also required Tommy John surgery.
Ritchie’s first full season in the Braves’ organization will be in 2025, and there’s speculation that he could quickly advance through the system, similar to how AJ Smith-Shawver (in 2023) and Spencer Schwellenbach (in 2024) made rapid ascents from the lower minors to the majors in just one season. This rapid progression could make Ritchie a key asset for the Braves as they look to strengthen their pitching depth in the coming years.
Tuesday Transactions:
– RHP JR Ritchie promoted to Rome
– OF Isaiah Drake placed on 7-Day ILCongratulations JR!! pic.twitter.com/NIFtrx3DmW
— Augusta GreenJackets (@GreenJackets) August 27, 2024