TIEDEMANN IS NEW ACE FOR BISONS

by Tony Fiorello

BRADENTON, FL - MARCH 21: Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Ricky Tiedemann (70) delivers a pitch during an MLB spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 21, 2024 at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Buffalo Bisons have a new weapon on the mound, and if the Herd’s home opener on Friday was any indication he’ll be effective for a long time.

Pitcher Ricky Tiedemann, the Toronto Blue Jays’ top prospect (and the 28th-ranked prospect in Major League Baseball according to mlb.com), is that ace. The 21-year-old, 6’4” southpaw, who no doubt will eventually get a call-up to the big leagues, represents the future of the Blue Jays’ pitching staff.

That was acknowledged by the team making him their starter for Buffalo’s season opener. Although Tiedemann didn’t exactly dominate the outing against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (ending the day allowing one run on three hits in 2.2 innings with three strikeouts and two walks), his peers – and his manager – were encouraged by what they saw, especially given the game’s windy conditions.

“He threw well overall – I don't think his slider was as sharp as it usually is, but his changeup is his second-best pitch after his fastball and he threw that well, mixed it up and really battled through it,” Bisons manager Casey Candaele said. “It’s a good first outing.

“We were expecting him to throw 60-65 pitches and he labored a little bit in the first couple of innings but he battled through it and did a great job. He's got it and he's going to be fine.”

First baseman Spencer Horwitz agreed.

“He was up and down a little bit today, but yeah, his pitching ability is special,” Horwitz said. “I've seen him throw up to 97 or 98 miles-per-hour, but playing in these conditions is definitely a little tough. I'm sure he was all amped up trying to get going, but once he got loose and settled in he was more like the Ricky we're used to.”

Tiedemann, who was a third-round draft pick by the Blue Jays in 2021, was honored to be selected as the season-opening starter.

“This is the first time I get to travel with the team other than being in Florida since I've been drafted, so being able to pitch an opening day is something special for me,” Tiedemann said. “I'm excited for it.”

After a breakout season at Golden West (Junior) College located in Huntington Beach, California that led to his drafting by the Jays, Tiedemann quickly showed what he was capable of by fanning 117 hitters in 78 and two-thirds innings across three different levels of professional baseball in 2022. Injuries, notably to his shoulder and biceps, restricted him to just 44 innings a year ago (which he ended with the Bisons) yet finished second among all minor leaguers with a strikeout rate of 44.1 percent.

To make up for lost time, Tiedemann participated in the Arizona Fall League following the season where he was named the league’s pitcher of the year.

“I loved being able to play with guys that I hadn't really met before and compete with them,” Tiedemann said. “Obviously, you're on the same team of guys with the Blue Jays so it was kind of different and refreshing for myself.

“It was really important for me to get more innings under my belt and make sure I'm in a better spot for this year and hopefully be able to compete with the team at the major league level. It was good for me.”

According to mlb.com, “The 6-foot-4 left-hander can run his fastball up to 98 mph and it generally sat at 93-96 over the top two levels of the Minors this past summer. His low three-quarters arm slot helps the heater play above the velocity too, making the four-seam a true plus pitch. His swings-and-misses, however, come from the offspeed – a low-80s sweeping slider that has gotten better in pro ball and a mid-80s changeup that can dive below bats. He does well against fellow lefties but was an absolute menace against opposite-side batters in 2023, holding them to a .186 average and a .196 slugging percentage over 123 plate appearances.

“The length of Tiedemann’s delivery has led to some control issues, and his walk rate climbed from 9.6 percent in 2022 to 12.4 in 2023. He’s still entering just his age-21 season, giving him time to iron out those concerns while also knocking on the door of the Majors.”

As his manager, Candaele knows Tiedemann’s strengths and weaknesses all too well. With those in mind, he believes that Tiedemann’s best chance for success in 2024 will be to pitch aggressively but knowing how to stay within himself as well.

“He just needs to go after people and get ahead,” Candaele said. “It's sometimes a learning experience – understanding the strike zone and you don't get close pitches sometimes and not getting frustrated with that. But Ricky was in the Arizona Fall League and he did a good job in spring training.

“So I think he's ready to go and not trying to do too much and doing what he can do. He's got a power fastball, great changeup and a good slider, so he should be fine.”