The prospect we’ll look at in today’s article will miss several months to start the 2025 season.
This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual Pre-Season Prospect Countdown, this time looking at the top 40 prospects in the organization. We’ll look at the player’s stats, my observations, and other publications’ scouting reports if available.
Let’s take a look at our fourth-best Toronto Blue Jays prospect, Ricky Tiedemann!
Getting to know Ricky Tiedemann…
Position: Starting pitcher
Throws: Left
Born: August 18, 2002
Acquired: 3rd-round, 2021 draft
Previous ranking: 3
The Blue Jays selected Ricky Tiedemann in the third round of the 2021 draft out of Junior College, with the left-handed starter making his professional debut in the following season. And what a professional debut it was for Tiedemann, as he posted a 2.17 ERA and a 2.51 FIP in 78.2 innings pitched between Single-A, High-A, and Double-A as a 19-year-old. More impressively, Tiedemann had a 38.9 K% and a 9.6 BB%.
He quickly rose in not just the Blue Jays’ top prospect list, but also MLB Pipeline’s top 100 list. However, the 2023 season was hampered by injury and control issues. Pitching in mainly Double-A, aside from two rehab appearances in Single-A and an end-of-season call-up to Triple-A, Tiedemann had a 5.06 ERA and a 2.12 FIP in 32 innings pitched with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. The left-handed pitcher still had an impressive 39.7 K%, but his BB% jumped to 13.7%.
Unfortunately, Tiedemann’s 2024 season was even more of a disaster. When healthy, the lefty had a 5.19 ERA and a 6.74 FIP in 17.1 innings pitched, splitting time between a rehab assignment in Single-A and Triple-A. At the latter level, he had a 6 ERA and a 10.46 FIP in nine innings pitched. In late July, the former Blue Jays’ top prospect underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his season prematurely.
Thankfully, Tiedemann appears to be well according to MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson, with Tiedemann aiming for a late-2025 comeback. That’d likely be with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.
Tiedemann ranked as MLB Pipeline’s fourth-best Blue Jays prospect in their mid-season update. Standing at 6’4”, 220 lbs, Tiedemann features a mid-90s fastball that has touched a tick under 100 mph. His secondary pitches are just as good, if not better, as his slider is regarded as his best pitch while his changeup is a plus pitch according to his scouting report. Control can be an issue for Tiedemann, as are the health concerns in the past two seasons. Still, he’s one of the Blue Jays’ best prospects.
As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.
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