Atlanta Braves’ Ian Anderson set to begin rehab

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Ian Anderson will take another step in his return to the pitching staff and recovery from Tommy John surgery. He is set to begin rehabilitation Tuesday as he prepares for a second-half return, according to Atlanta-based sports media personality Scott Kennedy.

Anderson hasn’t pitched for the Braves in almost two years. His last start was on August 13, 2022, when he launched the second half of a doubleheader against the Miami Marlins. However, Anderson’s long period away from the majors is partly due to the fact that he was sent to Triple-A to finish the 2022 season.

Anderson didn’t go under the knife until April 2023 after a very short first start of the season in Gwinnett – he only pitched 2/3 innings. His return to the Braves team would ease the Braves’ stress in seeing their No. 2 prospect, Hurston Waldrep, direction IL with an elbow injury.

In 52 career starts, Anderson is 22-13 with a 3.97 ERA with 262 strikeouts in 272.1 innings pitched. Anderson is best known for his electric performance in the 2021 postseason en route to the Braves winning their first World Series since 1995. In four postseason starts, he had an ERA of 1.59 and a WHIP of just 0.94.

He has struggled since then, but he will finally have the chance to return to Atlanta.

Kennedy said Anderson is expected to begin rehabilitation at CoolToday Park in North Port, Fla., the spring training facility of the Atlanta Braves. Another promising branch of the Braves organization began his rehabilitation there Monday.

JR Ritchie pitched two scoreless innings for the FCL Braves striking out a batter and allowing only one hit. The 22-year-old right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery last May. Ritchie only logged 29.2 innings, including his rehab start, due to missing time. However, he has a 3.34 ERA and 40 strikeouts to just eight walks in that span.

The Braves drafted Ritchie 35th overall in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft. He is ranked the fourth best hope in the Braves system on MLB.com.