As we approach the end of 2021, we're taking account of the PBR Washington player profile pages to determine the players in our backyard whose profiles earned the most attention throughout the year. We're counting down the top-10 profiles in the state that received the most views, starting at 10 and on, concluding our countdown on New Year's Day by revealing the most-viewed profile of the year.

The most viewed profile in the state of Washington this year was none other than RHP JR Ritchie (Bainbridge Island). A 6-foot-2, 185-pound athlete, Ritchie is one of the best prospects we’ve seen hail from the Pacific Northwest in recent years, currently slotted at 11th overall on our company’s national 2022 rankings. He offers a combination of polish and upside on the mound, featuring a quality three-pitch mix. Ritchie popped up at several high-end events throughout the summer circuit, including the Area Code Games, PDP League, and National Prospect Invitational (NPI). Below you’ll find blurbs from several members of our staff whose attention he caught at these respective events:

From the “Area Code Games: Pitching Standouts” written by Nathan Rode and Shooter Hunt

“The pitching crop in the Pacific Northwest is looking strong and of course is led by RHP J.R. Ritchie (Bainbridge Island HS, WA), even if the stat line didn’t show it in San Diego. He’s arguably the most polished arm in the country and though the stuff might not be elite, everything is at least average. He sits comfortably in the 90-93 range, touching 94, with an easy, clean delivery and some arm-side run to the fastball. His breaking ball is a 78-81 slider with late break and he has advanced feel for a changeup at 82-84. All of the damage he surrendered came with two outs in his third inning of work when a walk turned the gauntlet that was the Nationals’ lineup over. Ritchie pitches with a purpose and won’t back down to any hitter, throwing any of his pitches in any count.”

Found in “PDP League Standouts” written by Nathan Rode and Tad Slowik

“Ritchie, who stands at 6-foot-1, 183 pounds, is one of the most polished arms in the country with average or better stuff across the board. In four innings across two appearances, he made one mistake, a hanging breaking ball that Elijah Green deposited over the center-field wall. Outside of that he only allowed two other hits and a walk while striking out five. He has a simple, clean operation on the mound and his fastball ranges from 90-95 with late life. His breaking ball has sharp, late break at 80-83 and he throws a low-80s changeup with good arm speed. He repeats his delivery well and commands his whole arsenal.”

Found in “From The Hip: NPI 2022s” written by Shooter Hunt: 

“Perhaps my favorite “pitcher” in the class, RHP JR Ritchie (Bainbridge Island HS, WA), a UCLA recruit, toed the rubber for the first time in over a month, and confidently pumped fastballs, with intent, to four quadrants at 91-94. Somewhat late out of the glove with a shorter arm stroke, the fastball plays heavier down in the zone as he works linear down the mound with quickness of the hand through the ball. A short, tight slider (79-83) tunnels the fastball well, and Ritchie showed off his elite pitchability by dissecting hitters (early on) with a clear plan to put them away late. The slider took shorter, true-action with late, short break, and Ritchie displayed his innate feel for spin in manipulating what looked like more of a downer curveball that profiled better with elevated fastballs. The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder tired somewhat in his first outing of the summer, and was greeted to Georgia’s June-humidity in the midday which he has not come close to experiencing in the past year up in his home state of Washington. Regardless, it was a strong first showing for one of the top arms in the 2022 class.”

Committed to UCLA, Ritchie is certain to garner plenty of draft attention leading up to July and he may hear his name called relatively early on in the process itself. Learn more about one of the country’s elite arms below.

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