Toronto Blue Jays shut down two pitchers, announce MRI results

The Toronto Blue Jays were dealt a concerning update on one of their top young arms Tuesday, as highly regarded left-hander Ricky Tiedemann has been shut down from throwing for the next week due to elbow soreness.

Manager John Schneider told reporters on Tuesday that Tiedemann experienced discomfort in his left elbow during a recent side session.

The 23-year-old subsequently underwent an MRI, which fortunately showed no structural damage.

For now, the organization is opting for caution as he takes a brief break from throwing.

Selected in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft, Tiedemann was added to Toronto's 40-man roster in November to shield him from the Rule 5 Draft.

Once viewed as the club's top overall prospect and a potential long-term fixture in the rotation, his development has been slowed by injuries in recent seasons.

Tiedemann missed the entire 2025 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery the previous summer.

Prior to the procedure in 2024, he managed just 17.1 innings across eight starts split between the Blue Jays' complex league affiliate, Low-A Dunedin and Triple-A Buffalo. In that limited stretch, the California native posted a 5.19 ERA.

While he held opponents to a .203 batting average and struck out an impressive 32.5 percent of hitters, command issues surfaced, reflected in a 19.3 percent walk rate.

His breakout came in 2022, when he emerged as one of the most exciting pitching prospects in baseball.

That season, Tiedemann compiled a 2.17 ERA and struck out 117 batters over 78.2 innings, flashing the swing-and-miss arsenal that vaulted him up prospect rankings.

Though injuries shortened his 2023 season, he continued to dominate when healthy, finishing the year in Triple-A and striking out an eye-popping 44.1 percent of opposing hitters.

Fellow pitching prospect Chay Yeager is scheduled to meet with noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister after experiencing right-elbow discomfort during live batting practice last week.

Depending on the outcome of that consultation, surgery remains a possibility.

Yeager, a 23-year-old reliever and 12th-round pick in 2023, was in big-league camp this spring as a non-roster invitee.

He impressed in 2025, posting a 2.75 ERA with 64 strikeouts over 55.2 innings across two minor-league levels.

For Toronto, the immediate outlook offers some relief with no structural damage found in Tiedemann's elbow.

Still, after multiple injury setbacks, the organization will undoubtedly proceed carefully with one of its most talented young pitchers.

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