Atlanta pitching prospect from Bainbridge wins first MLB start

TL;DR

JR Ritchie, a pitching prospect from Bainbridge Island, won his first MLB start with the Atlanta Braves against the Washington Nationals on April 23, 2026. He pitched seven innings, allowing two runs and striking out seven batters.

Key points

JR Ritchie is a pitching prospect from Bainbridge Island.
He made his MLB debut on April 23, 2026.
Ritchie pitched for the Atlanta Braves against the Washington Nationals.
He allowed two runs and struck out seven batters.
The Braves won the game 7-2.

James WoodJR RitchieAtlanta BravesWashington Nationals

Apr 23, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher JR Richie (56) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

One start, one victory, a dugout full of memories for Bainbridge Island native JR Ritchie.

The former high school pitching phenom made a successful Major League Baseball debut for the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, April 23, drawing the road start against the Washington Nationals.

Undeterred by allowing a home run to Nats slugger James Wood on the first pitch of the game, Ritchie delivered on the biggest stage. The 22-year-old right-hander finished seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking one. He threw 54 of his 89 pitches for strikes and departed with a four-run lead. Two Atlanta relievers pitched the final two innings to secure a 7-2 win.

“There’s definitely a lot going through my mind right now," Ritchie told Braves media following the game. "I’m just so happy to be here, happy to help the ballclub win."

Ritchie ended the game strong after allowing a game-tying solo home run to CJ Abrams in the fourth inning. He struck out Wood to end the fifth inning, catching the corner of the plate on a 3-2 count with a 97-mph fastball. After Atlanta scored four runs in the top of the seventh to pull ahead 6-2, Ritchie induced an inning-ending double play in the bottom of the inning on his final pitch of the day.

Q&A

What were JR Ritchie's stats in his first MLB start?

In his first MLB start, JR Ritchie pitched seven innings, allowed two runs on five hits, struck out seven batters, and walked one.

Which team did JR Ritchie debut against in MLB?

JR Ritchie made his MLB debut against the Washington Nationals.

How did JR Ritchie perform after allowing a home run in his debut?

After allowing a home run on the first pitch, JR Ritchie recovered to pitch seven strong innings, finishing with a four-run lead.