Ricky Tiedemann is forcing the Blue Jays to take a second look.
The left-hander, one of Toronto’s top pitching prospects, has gone from a quick major league cameo to a strong argument for another shot in the bullpen. With September roster expansion adding two players, Tiedemann could be back in Toronto for the stretch run.
Tiedemann, 24, debuted on Aug. 15 against the New York Yankees and worked 1.2 innings in the Blue Jays’ 4-1 win. The 2021 third-round pick gave up one run on two hits and struck out two before being sent back to Triple-A Buffalo the next day.
Since returning to the Bisons, though, he’s been sharp. In four appearances, Tiedemann has tossed five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out six. His last two outings came Aug. 26 and 29 against the Rochester Red Wings, who are leading the International League’s second-half standings.
On Aug. 26, he didn’t allow a run over 1.1 innings, fanning two and throwing 13 of 15 pitches for strikes. Three days later, he gave up just one hit in 1.2 innings, stranded both inherited runners, struck out two and induced three groundouts. He threw 14 of 20 pitches for strikes, with his fastball averaging 95.4 mph and touching 97.3 mph.
Toronto Blue Jays prospect Ricky Tiedemann threw one of his best games today in terms of command. 15 pitches-13 strikes
1.1 IP
0 H
0 ER
0 BB
2 K
3 Whiffs #BlueJays50 pic.twitter.com/3TxpTeEIjF
- Daniel Labude (@OrcaBaseball) August 26, 2026
There’s a clear opening for a lefty who can get outs now, and Tiedemann fits that bill. MLB.com has him ranked as Toronto’s 11th-best prospect, and he could give the bullpen another dependable southpaw alongside Mason Fluharty and the inconsistent Brendon Little.
The Blue Jays still view Tiedemann as a starter long term, but this season he could be a useful reliever who helps stabilize a bullpen that owns a 3.79 ERA, ninth in the majors. Toronto also needs more fresh arms after Shane Bieber recently landed on the IL.
His return to Buffalo was tied in part to Little coming back to the team, though health may have been part of the picture too. Little has more experience, and Tiedemann has dealt with plenty physically over the last couple of years.
He was limited by elbow soreness earlier this season before coming off the minor-league injured list in August. He also had Tommy John surgery in 2024, a recovery that usually takes about 18 months.
Keeping him in the bullpen could help the Blue Jays manage his workload and reduce the risk of a setback while still letting him keep building as a pitcher. And with his fastball back in the 97-98 mph range and his command looking better, Tiedemann is starting to look like a real weapon for a team trying to get back to the playoffs. His steady work in Buffalo suggests he could be a meaningful help in the fall - a reminder to some of Trey Yesavage in 2025 - and Toronto can use every bit of it.
In Other News...
Blue Jays Roster Shift Puts September Upgrades In Focus
The Blue Jays made a quiet roster move before September, optioning pitcher CJ Van Eyk to Triple-A Buffalo without announcing a corresponding move. Van Eyks minor league season had been solid, but his brief major league looks never really translated into much impact, and the decision opens the door for Toronto to start reshaping its roster as the calendar turns.
September is when the depth chart gets interesting, and the Blue Jays are expected to add three players to their 28-man group. Ricky Tiedemann and prospect Sean Keys are among the names in the conversation, giving the club a chance to reward development while also adding some late-season energy to a roster still sorting out its priorities. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Suddenly Have A Bigger Spencer Arrighetti Problem
Spencer Arrighetti looked like he might be settling in after a strong opening run with the Astros, but the right-handers season has taken a sharp turn since late May. The home runs have piled up, the fastball has lost some of its edge, and the result has been a pitcher who is no longer giving Houston the kind of stability it expected when he first flashed promise earlier in the year.
For the Blue Jays, the concern is less about one bad outing than a growing pattern that has made Arrighetti a tougher assignment than he seemed a few weeks ago. Most of the damage has come against his fastball, which puts the focus on how effectively he can make the pitch work again, and whether Houston can help him get back to the version of himself that looked so much more dependable before the slide. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Make A Telling Pitching Change Before Guardians Series
Toronto is leaning on a familiar modern pitching wrinkle as it opens its series against Cleveland, handing the first-inning assignment to Spencer Miles and planning for Spencer Arrighetti to cover the bulk of the game behind him. Miles has been one of the more dependable arms in the bullpen this season, giving the Blue Jays steady innings in 42 appearances with a 5-2 record and a 2.92 ERA, the kind of profile that makes him a natural fit for a short opening role.
The move is also a clear attempt to simplify things for Arrighetti after a difficult start to his Toronto tenure. Acquired in a trade, he has yet to settle in, and the club is hoping the opener setup can ease some of the pressure and help him find a better rhythm while giving the Blue Jays a cleaner path through a lineup that will be tested early. [Read more 🡒]