Bainbridge Island's JR Ritchie on 2022 MLB draft: 'Finding a team that believes in me'

Bainbridge Island's JR Ritchie went camping with a group of friends near Lake Cushman in late June and experienced something he doesn't often encounter these days: a quiet phone.

"There's no cell service out there," Ritchie said.

Ritchie's phone will likely be more active next Sunday, July 17, during the first day of the Major League Baseball draft. The first round includes 39 selections and it's quite possible Ritchie could hear his name called. Plenty of mock drafts have the 19-year-old pitcher being taken within the first 50 picks.

There is still a degree of uncertainty regarding Ritchie's future. He is committed to UCLA, but would forego college if signs a contract with a major league team following the draft. High school seniors who are drafted but don't sign professional contracts would become draft-eligible again after their junior college season.

Ritchie insists his mind isn't made up regarding his future.

"I'm trying to take it in day-by-day at this point," he said. "Not trying to get too far ahead of myself."

Regardless of whether he signs with a major league club or opts for college, there's a reason Ritchie has spent these early days of summer enjoying the company of friends and family. It's because his life is about to change in a major way.

"I only have so many days left on this island," he said.

Ritchie is leaving behind a legacy as one of the most dominant high school pitchers to ever play in West Sound. As a senior with Bainbridge in the spring, Ritchie finished 7-0 with two earned runs allowed in 35 and 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out 74 batters while allowing just 12 hits and four walks.

Hoping to lead Bainbridge to a Class 3A state championship, Ritchie found himself sidelined after testing positive for COVID-19 just two days prior to the Spartans' first-round game against Mercer Island. Bainbridge ended up losing 8-0 and Mercer Island went on to win the 3A title.

Ritchie watched the Spartans' season-ending defeat on a livestream broadcast from his bedroom. It took some time for him to recover from the illness. He recalls doing a sled workout 10 days after testing positive.

"I normally do eight sets, 10 sets of this one workout," Ritchie said. "I got through two and I was just dead tired. It was definitely apparent that I was still dealing with it."

Ritchie said he feels back to 100% health and he's focused on the draft. There's a part of him that is excited about the prospect of attending college and playing for the Bruins. He eventually wants to earn a degree and coach collegiate baseball once his playing days are done.

Ritchie also admits that the chance at playing professional baseball isn't something most people in his position turn down. If he's drafted, Ritchie has until Aug. 1 to sign a contract.

"I want to go to school, but there's opportunities you can't pass up," Ritchie said. "It's really about finding a team that believes in me as much as I believe in myself, who really thinks I can be the guy."

Ritchie insists the millions of dollars he'll have the opportunity to collect as a high draft pick isn't the only factor in his decision. He pointed out that after a high school draft pick receives his signing bonus, that player earns much less as a minor leaguer — and there's no guarantee that a player's journey will lead to the major leagues.

"I really try to not pay too much attention to the money," Ritchie said. "For me, I just want to play."

Asked if he pays attention to mock drafts or prospect lists, Ritchie said he doesn't spend much time trying to figure out where writers and draft "experts" think he'll be picked.

"I look at them, but at the end of the day, it's not like they have a pick in the draft," he said. "I really don't take those to heart."

Ritchie said during the 2021 draft, many mock drafts had one of his select club teammates Frank Mozzicato slated to be a second-round pick. Mozzicato ended up being picked seventh overall by Kansas City.

"When I saw that happen, I was like, 'All right, I'm throwing mock drafts out the window.'"

With the 2022 draft loaded with prep pitchers who can throw in the mid-to-upper 90s, one attribute that helps set Ritchie apart is his ability to consistently find the strike zone and command multiple pitches. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder can bring the heat without being overly mechanical — or overthrowing.

"I'm more of a movement over mechanics type of guy in the sense that I'm not going to be worried about if my mechanics are perfect," Ritchie said. "I'm just going to be an athlete and I'm going to move at a pace that works best for my body. For me, if I try to throw 100%, I don't throw as hard. If I move at a pace that's comfortable for my body, at 85-90% and I'm going at a good tempo, everything seems to click and line up."

That's how Ritchie wants to treat this MLB draft experience. Considering what's at stake, he'll be in no rush to make one of the biggest decisions of his life.

"I'm not sure where life is taking me after this summer, whether that's campus or somewhere in Arizona, Florida," Ritchie said. "I could be anywhere in the next six months. I'm trying to slow it down as much as I can and take it in."

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Bainbridge's Ritchie weighing UCLA, MLB draft prospects