Blue Jays’ Ricky Tiedemann set to throw first bullpen

Tiedemann last pitched on July 10, 2024, with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. After just an inning, he was pulled from his start and received Tommy John surgery later that month. The news that he’s starting to throw shouldn’t come as a surprise, as Tiedemann noted in Spring Training that he was hoping to come back toward the end of the season.

Despite missing almost a year of action, Tiedemann remains the Blue Jays’ second-best pitching prospect, only behind Trey Yesavage. The Jays have been aggressive in both of their development, as Tiedemann started the 2022 season in Single-A, reaching High-A, before finishing in Double-A.

Tiedemann had a terrific professional debut that year, finishing with a 2.17 ERA and a 2.51 FIP in 78.2 innings pitched, with a 38.9 K% and a 9.6 BB%. Unfortunately, he struggled with injuries and poor command in 2023, finishing the year with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.68 FIP in 44 innings pitched, with a 44.1 K% and a 12.4 BB%.

Even before needing Tommy John surgery, Tiedemann’s season started rough, pitching in three games to begin the year before a two-month stint on the Injured List. When healthy, Tiedemann had a 5.19 ERA and a 6.74 FIP in 17.1 innings pitched, with a 32.5 K% and a 19.3 BB%.

Tiedemann isn’t the only Blue Jays’ pitching prospect who has undergone Tommy John surgery in the past year and a half. Brandon Barriera missed over a year with the surgery, only returning recently. Landen Maruodis received a brace and also recently returned.

Other pitching prospects who underwent the surgery are Angel Bastardo, Jake Bloss, Chad Dallas, T.J. Brock, Connor Cooke, Carson Pierce, and Nolan Perry. That doesn’t even include Alek Manoah, who received the surgery a little over a year ago.

The good news is that some of those pitching prospects could return to game action before the end of the season.