Blue Jays' Tiedemann takes on AFL trifecta challenge

Ricky Tiedemann has many opportunities in front of him this autumn. To make up for lost innings. To cement his standing as one of baseball’s best pitching prospects. To prove just how close he is to helping the Blue Jays next season.

Call it the Arizona Fall League trifecta.

The first objective is perhaps the most important, at least the way the Toronto's top prospect puts it.

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Coming off a breakout 2022 during which he struck out 117 batters in over 78 2/3 innings and climbed three levels, the left-hander was limited to 44 frames this year as he battled shoulder and biceps issues. He missed much of May, June and July because of those injuries, and even when he did return to the Double-A New Hampshire rotation on Aug. 11, the Blue Jays remained cautious and allowed him to eclipse the 70-pitch mark only twice over his final eight starts.

But that caution proved prudent, or at least facilitated productivity. Tiedemann continued to make his regularly scheduled outings and showed his trademark mid-90s fastball, upper-70s sweeper and mid-80s changeup, and as the fall approached, the 2021 third-rounder seemed like a natural AFL fit.

“There were a few obstacles I faced early on,” Tiedemann said. “I think getting through the shoulder and bicep area and getting able to get back out there and get comfortable again, I think that was huge for me, and I think I was able to do that towards the very end of the season.”

The Blue Jays gave Tiedemann a cup of coffee at Triple-A Buffalo in his final outing of the regular season, on Sept. 22. He struck out six and allowed one unearned run on two hits and two walks over four innings, and even that brief look set up the southpaw for the AFL and beyond.

“I think it's a smarter game in Triple-A,” he said. “I think the talent is the same with everybody. I think it's just a mental thing with guys from the [Single-A] level to the Triple-A level, and it was pretty cool to experience that.”

Tiedemann has clearly taken some of those mental lessons to heart over the first two weeks of the AFL season. Entering Monday’s play, the southpaw leads the Fall League with 18 strikeouts and 13 innings pitched while sporting a 2.77 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. His most recent outing on Saturday -- an abbreviated three-inning start in a seven-inning contest -- saw him routinely hit 96-97 mph, so the physical is there as well.

This fall, Toronto fans are getting a clear view of the Tiedemann that was promised entering 2023. In 2024, should this trend continue in the Southwest, they may get a closer look at him north of the border.

“I think the main goal out here is to get deeper into games and add innings towards my year,” he said. “Finish out the year and put myself in a better position for next season.”

Blue Jays hitters in the Fall League

Damiano Palmegiani, 3B/1B (No. 18): Known for his power, Palmegiani finished second in the system with 23 homers and led Blue Jays farmhands with 223 total bases between Double-A and Triple-A in 2023. He posted a .255/.364/.478 slash line over 557 plate appearances. A below-average runner, the 2021 14th-rounder is getting looks at both third base and first base with Surprise, and work on his defense will remain a focus as he pushes for a spot in Toronto in 2024.

Dasan Brown, OF (No. 29): The Ontario native is considered an 80-grade runner, and he’s used those wheels to steal at least 20 bags in each of his last three seasons. He’s also considered a gifted defender in center field. He’ll need the run and fielding tools with his bat in question after slashing just .218/.309/.315 over 107 games with High-A Vancouver during the regular season.

Will Robertson, OF: The 25-year-old corner outfielder finished among the top six in the Eastern League in homers (19, sixth), extra-base hits (47), slugging percentage (.488, fourth) and OPS (.811, fifth), confirming his reputation as a power-first bat. A 2019 fourth-rounder out of Creighton, Robertson is Rule 5-eligible for a second straight offseason.

Blue Jays pitchers in the Fall League

Conor Larkin, RHP: Toronto took Larkin out of Penn State in the ninth round in 2021 and has used him in relief since. He spent the entire 2023 season with High-A Vancouver, where he earned three saves while posting a 4.30 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 57 strikeouts and 21 walks in 46 innings. The 24-year-old right-hander usually sits in the low-90s with his heater and spins a quality slider that helps lead to K’s.

Trent Palmer, RHP: Palmer had Tommy John surgery late in 2022 but returned in time to make four starts in the Florida Complex and State Leagues in August and September, though he struggled with control in those outings (seven walks in 7 2/3 innings). He sat in the upper-80s with his sinker in his first Fall League outing and showed an upper-80s slider and changeup but was hit around for six earned runs on five hits and two walks without recording an outing. Only one of the five hits exceeded a 95 mph exit velocity, however.

Fitz Stadler, RHP: Stadler didn’t pitch last year after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He returned to the mound this May, throwing 36 1/3 innings between Single-A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire. He posted a 3.96 ERA with 42 strikeouts and seven walks in that time. The 2018 18th-rounder leans heavily on an 85-88 mph cutter and also sits 92-94 mph with his four-seam fastball.

CJ Van Eyk, RHP: A second-round pick in 2020 who signed for $1.8 million, Van Eyk missed all of the 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery and got back to the mound in fits and starts this summer, reaching Double-A by late August. He sports a full four-pitch mix with a fastball that can touch 95 mph, and he can get whiffs with a low-80s curveball and low-80s change. The mid-80s slider is in the back of the pack. The deep repertoire gives him a shot at starting, but the 25-year-old needs to show consistent health ahead of a Rule 5 decision this offseason.