The Atlanta Braves will have plenty of local flavor on the field this Saturday at Truist Park, when the game’s youth movement shines in the All-Star Futures Game.
Two Braves pitchers – JR Ritchie and Hayden Harris – will be on the NL’s roster, and so will Marquis Grissom Jr., the son of the man who caught the final out of the 1995 World Series, now a Nationals flamethrower.
Making up the NL’s coaching staff, stocked with remarkably familiar names, will be Mark DeRosa (Bench Coach), Andruw Jones (Hitting Coach), Tim Hudson (Pitching Coach), Pete Moylan (Bullpen Coach), Kanekoa Texeira (Third Base Coach), Tyler Flowers (First Base Coach) and Nick Markakis.
Oh, and Chipper Jones. Hall of Famer. He’s the manager. He’s got notoriety. You might be familiar.
When the game’s first pitch is thrown just after 4:00 PM, it’ll be Ritchie delivering it for the NL side, an distinction he was somewhat overwhelmed by among such a star-studded field, including the masterful Jonah Tong (Mets) and flamethrower Carson Whisenhunt (Giants).
“It’s an incredible honor. To be able to start a game in Truist Park in front of Braves Country is just incredible,” Ritchie told FanSided this week.
Ritchie’s goals for his own output have wildly swung as this season has progressed.
Coming off an injury-interrupted 12-outing season, his primary objective was to have a healthy year and take the steps forward he knew he was capable of. Not only has he shown off the availability that he prized, but he’s pitched so well that he made the spotlight inevitable, going 5-4 with a 2.35 ERA in 15 starts, eight of which have come for the Double-A Columbus Clingstones.
“You never really think about this kind of stuff when you go into the season. I just wanted to be healthy and throw to the best of my abilities,” Ritchie said. “I’m so grateful to the Braves and MLB for giving me this opportunity.”
And, when it came time for the Braves to bestow the honor on one of their own future hometown heroes, they knew exactly who had to deliver the message: Ritchie’s future manager, Chipper Jones himself.
JR Ritchie found out about Futures Game start directly from Braves Hall of Famer Chipper Jones
“I was rolling out of our gym and I got a phone call from an Atlanta number, so obviously I picked it up,” Ritchie explained. “The voice on the other end goes, ‘Hi, JR!’ and I’m like, ‘Who is this?’. ‘It’s Chipper Jones.’ I don’t think I’ve ever gotten up that quick from sitting down on the ground.”
“To have Chipper Jones of all people call and tell you you’re starting the Futures Game, it’s a dream come true.”
Ritchie’s road to Atlanta will be paved in meaningful milestones, but somehow, the Braves found a way to make his first showcase even more special in the final hours before gametime.
The 2022 All-Star Weekend, when Ritchie was drafted in front of a fervent Los Angeles crowd, will always hold special meaning. You can certainly add 2025 to that list, after Chipper handed him the ball, with Andruw and Huddy looking on.
