No matter what happens for the rest of JR Ritchie's Major League Baseball career, he will always remember his first pitch. Perhaps not fondly, but he'll definitely never struggle to remember if it was a fastball or curveball or if it was a ball or a strike. Ritchie induced immediate action on the first delivery of his time in the show, just not the kind he would have hoped for.
Ritchie, who was selected by the Braves in the second round of the 2022 MLB draft, earned a callup to the majors after showcasing solid stuff at the minor league level. Walt Weiss handed him the ball for Thursday's matinee against the Nationals and Ritchie's parents were able to make it to the ballpark to see him realize his dream in person.
