Who gets the most 2026 innings: JR Ritchie or Didier Fuentes?

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Didier Fuentes announced his presence with authority yesterday. It’s only Spring Training, but a 5/0 K/BB ratio will get you noticed. Watch this 98.7 MPH fastball yesterday.

Didier Fuentes struck out two in a perfect first. He ended the frame by getting Bellinger to swing through this 98.7 mph heater pic.twitter.com/hKeQa4C8oR

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 13, 2026

Now pair that with this sweeper. Didier definitely showed off the goods yesterday against the Yankees road lineup. It’s definitely enough to get him involved in the Braves’ rotation conversation. But he’s not the only prospect knocking on the door. JR Ritchie has also looked good this spring.

Imagine Atlanta Braves producing Rookie of the Year winners Back-to-Back and securing draft compensation picks for two consecutive season!

JR Ritchie 2 IP / 1 R / 0 BB / 5 K
108 Stuff+
57.1 Whiff%#BravesCountrypic.twitter.com/2lgj22u6DI

— Eric Yu (@Eric35_Yu) February 27, 2026

Ritchie offers a fastball, sinker, sweeper, curveball, changeup, and cutter. He’s not tinkering; He’s administering, as JR appears to get results with all of them.

So who gets the most 2026 innings: JR Ritchie or Didier Fuentes? If I had to guess, JR Ritchie has a path to the Opening Day rotation, and failing that might debut in Atlanta before Fuentes returns. They’l send Didier Fuentes to AAA save a nighmare scenario. He has less than 50 innings in the upper minors. I’m not sure the Braves can quit Bryce Elder to start the year. Martin Perez is hanging around as well. But you know the prospects will get their chance. If I had to lean one way or another, I’d say JR Ritchie. Though after watching yesterday, Didier Fuentes make become undeniable.

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