Ricky Tiedemann is back on the mound, and the Blue Jays are suddenly staring at a familiar kind of decision.
The 23-year-old left-hander, once viewed as one of the most exciting pitching prospects in Toronto’s system, has spent the last few years fighting through injuries, including Tommy John surgery, that knocked his rise off track. His return began this past Wednesday at Triple-A Buffalo, where he worked a scoreless inning, allowed one walk, recorded one whiff and reached close to 98 mph.
That outing marked the start of what could become an important stretch for both Tiedemann and the organization. The talent is still obvious. The bigger question is how Toronto plans to use him from here.
On pure stuff, Tiedemann still looks like a starter. His pitch mix and arm talent give him the profile of someone who could fit in a major league rotation.
But his path now carries a resemblance to former Blue Jays pitching prospect Nate Pearson, whose injury history pushed him toward relief work in order to protect his arm and keep him effective. Toronto could decide to take a similarly cautious approach with Tiedemann.
There’s also the matter of timing. Tiedemann had already reached Triple-A in 2024 before his Tommy John surgery, and he is expected to get at least a few relief outings between now and the end of the season. If he performs well, a September appearance with the Blue Jays is at least possible.
Toronto’s bullpen could use help, and that opens the door a bit wider. If the Blue Jays are out of the playoff race, a strong run from Tiedemann might be enough to earn him a look in the big leagues before the season ends.
That would matter for him on a personal level, but it would also give the Blue Jays a chance to see where he stands after all the setbacks. It would be a useful evaluation point before the 2027 MLB season.
There’s still a path for him to compete for a rotation spot next year if he can build up enough innings. There’s also a real possibility that he settles in as a hard-throwing bullpen weapon. Either way, the next few weeks should tell Toronto a lot about what Ricky Tiedemann can still become.
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