Consistency key for Blue Jays prospect Tiedemann

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Everybody who’s anybody in the Blue Jays’ organization gathered around Field 1 at the club’s new player development complex on Saturday to watch a round of live batting practice featuring a trio of top pitching prospects, led by young left-hander Ricky Tiedemann.

General manager Ross Atkins and president and CEO Mark Shapiro were on-site alongside other key members of the front office while Major League coaches, Minor League coaches and development staff spread across the bleachers and benches at the complex. It wasn’t just for Tiedemann, of course, but he showed exactly why he’s been generating buzz since the Blue Jays selected him in the third round of the 2021 Draft out of Golden West College.

Still just 19, but already filling out his 6-foot-4 frame noticeably better than leading up to the Draft, Tiedemann worked through a handful of hitters as the group watched. Results in live batting practice in late February carry zero weight, but it was easy to see early flickers of what the Blue Jays envisioned. Tiedemann has gotten plenty familiar with this complex since Draft day, too, and that’s where this all starts.

“There’s not one place on earth that has what they have here all in one place,” Tiedemann said. “The food, the facility, the recovery, training, everything. It’s amazing. You don’t want to be anywhere else but here.”

At the end of the 2021 season, Tiedemann stayed at the Dunedin complex for a physical development camp and weight training. He was there long enough to begin his offseason throwing program before heading home to continue his work with his brother, Rangers Minor League right-hander Tai Tiedemann, but Ricky Tiedemann has leaned on the facility since to cut body fat, build muscle and accelerate his timeline.

“It’s been a blessing,” Ricky Tiedemann said. “I’ve never experienced any facilities or anything like this. Before this, when I was in [junior college], I didn’t really have any programs or anything to go off of. Once I got here, they finally were able to hone me into my program and I feel like I’ve made a jump already.”

Tiedemann throws a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and can reach up to 97-98 mph along with a circle change, which was his “bread and butter” leading into the Draft. It’s his slider, though, that’s felt immediately sharp in camp, a fine feeling for any pitcher this early in the year.

The new complex is spilling over with technology and data for the players to access, but Tiedemann tries not to fixate on that. He knows that the Blue Jays will bring him any info he needs about good or bad data, so between that, he focuses on the feel of what he’s doing. Already the top left-handed pitching prospect in the system, Tiedemann was on display alongside right-handers Adam Kloffenstein and Sem Robberse on Saturday.

“You’ve got to grow up quick with these guys,” Tiedemann said. “They’re definitely here for a reason. Everybody is chasing the same goal, so we’re all here to learn from each other and also compete with each other. As long as we’re competing, I get along great with everybody. I feel like everyone has been good to me and there’s nobody who’s treated me badly, so I love it here. All of the guys are great.”

The trick for any pitcher, though -- and Tiedemann knows this -- is looking good each time they’re on the mound, not just on Feb. 26. Plenty of pitchers throw in the high-90s, plenty have impressive secondaries and even more have impressive physical builds. Those are just the basics.

Tiedemann won't turn 20 until August, so he isn’t skyrocketing to the big leagues tomorrow. He hasn’t thrown a pitch in pro ball yet, but he’s checked off the early boxes and now is doing it in front of the right audience.

“When I came in, I feel like they wanted to build me into what I am now and it kind of happened really fast,” Tiedemann said. “Once I showed them that I took what they had and really built on it then showed them I can compete, I’m just trying to be consistent. They want consistency. If I can be consistent, I’ll move up much quicker.”