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Post by chinmusic on Sept 23, 2020 23:53:51 GMT -8
JR was committed to Oregon State for almost two years before de-committing recently. There has to be an interesting story there but no matter, we focus on the rest of a very good 2022 class.
Ritchie is now ranked the 14th best high school baseball player in the country and the top RHP. He has 2 years of high school play left fore he graduates in 2022. A strong resemblance to Mick Abel's career. Ritchie is throwing 94 mph and like Mick, has a wipe-out slider and a good change-up. Their rankings are similar. JR projects as a potential first round or early second round draft selection.
To satisfy any curiosity, I thought I'd mention him today, he's committed and will sign with UCLA.
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Post by easyheat on Oct 12, 2020 20:10:15 GMT -8
J.R. has recently revealed a little insight into his decommitment. Committed to Pat Casey and Pat Bailey late in his freshman year. Said he was committed to OSU for over 2 years. Began a training program with a pitching instructor that introduced him to UCLA's staff during one of his several tournament stops in soCal this summer. He took an unofficial visit and loved the campus and facilities. Flipped his commit to UCLA shortly thereafter.
He mentioned early in the interview the two coaching changes at OSU. From the sounds of it, that would have been a period he needed a lot of reassurance about any changes in the OSU program.
How much we were in contact and how much reassurance he was receiving is unknown and open only to speculation. Sometimes it doesn't pay to spend a lot of time recruiting a guy that will likely go in the first 25 to 35 selections in the 2022 draft.
He's a bright guy, humble and down to earth. His interview answers were reasoned and thoughtful.
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Post by mbabeav on Oct 13, 2020 9:42:34 GMT -8
THe Pros are going to be waving a big signing bonus if he finishes his high school career the way he started it - I don't think UCLA is going to see him in uniform, just as I didn't think OSU was. Hard throwing pitchers have a shorter lifespan, and I am not sure the money will be easy to resist.
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Post by chinmusic on Nov 13, 2020 10:31:02 GMT -8
When Ian Ritchie committed to Oregon State his freshman year in high school, he was so promising the odds of him ever playing college ball were never good. He has continually improved in every part of his game and as he prepares to play his Junior season this coming spring, he is looking more and more like a potential first round draft pick in the 2022 draft. He is currently ranked #11 among all preps nationally.
Here is a recent comment from Rawlings-Perfect Game.
"Ian Ritchie Jr. (2022 Brainbridge, WA) has an electric arm and was pretty consistent with his 92-96 mph fastball this fall. He has the makings of a plus breaking ball and showed plenty of control to go along with his swing-and-miss stuff. As he learns to design and sequence it could get scary pretty quickly."
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