Toronto Blue Jays top prospect Ricky Tiedemann is back, ready to hit the ground running in 2026
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After missing the entire 2025 season, Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann is back and ready to hit the ground running.
When the 23-year old Toronto Blue Jays lefty took the mound in 2024, he was battling through what became a frustrating, injury-plagued season.
Early that year, Tiedemann was sidelined for three months with ulnar nerve inflammation in his left elbow.
He worked his way back, but the comeback was short-lived. In his first start after returning, he exited after just one inning.
Further evaluation led to Tommy John surgery on the same elbow, bringing his 2024 campaign to an abrupt end and ultimately costing him the entire 2025 season as well.
Now, after 17 months of rehab, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound left-hander is back to full health — and grateful for the grind that got him there.
“This is refreshing,” Tiedemann said to MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson. “When it got to that last day of being [in] rehab, and my trainers told me I’d be out of there tomorrow and moving to the other side, after 17 months, I wanted to just treat it like another day. Then I got home, and my teammates were like, ‘Let’s cook a steak for you, bro - that’s a big deal.’ That’s when I finally sat back: ‘Damn, I really did put my head down for that long.’”
Before the injuries derailed his trajectory, Tiedemann was viewed as one of the premier pitching prospects in baseball.
He entered 2024 ranked No. 29 on MLB.com’s top prospect list and was widely regarded as a potential impact arm for Toronto’s future.
Instead, he was limited to just eight starts across Triple-A, Single-A and rookie ball. In 17.1 innings, he posted a 5.19 ERA and 1.67 WHIP — numbers that reflected both rust and the physical setbacks he was trying to overcome.
With two lost seasons behind him, Tiedemann says his focus is simple: stay healthy and get back to facing hitters.
“I feel amazing. Everything feels great,” Tiedemann said. “It’s just about seeing live batters and getting that feel back, but health-wise? Everything’s been money.”
How and when he factors into the Blue Jays’ plans remains uncertain. Whether he returns as a starter or transitions into a bullpen role, Tiedemann’s mindset is clear — be prepared for whatever opportunity comes.
“Whatever the team needs, you ought to be ready for it and you ought to be excited for it. Not many guys get the opportunity. If you’re putting up the numbers, whether you’re starting or relieving, just to get that call would be a blessing for me. I’ll be ready. No matter when they call, I’ll be ready for it, and I’ll be excited.”
Spring training will offer the first real look at a fully healthy Tiedemann in live game action.
Beyond simply seeing him back on the mound, there’s added intrigue in discovering how close he is to rediscovering — and perhaps even surpassing — the lofty ceiling that once made him one of baseball’s most promising young arms.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 17|150 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays top prospect Ricky Tiedemann is back, ready to hit the ground running in 2026 Do you think Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann will finally break through in 2026? | ||
| Yes | 100 | 66.7 % |
| No | 16 | 10.7 % |
| Too early to tell | 34 | 22.7 % |
| List of polls | ||