DUNEDIN, Fla. -- You’ve already seen the exciting part of Ricky Tiedemann's rise, complete with the allure and mystique that only the next big thing can pull off. Now comes the boring part, which matters just as much.

Tiedemann, the Blue Jays' No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is talented enough to pitch in the big leagues tomorrow. That’s been the case for a while now, but talent alone only gets you in the door. It’s a pitcher’s routine, that intentionally vague word that finds itself into every sentence in Spring Training, that turns flashes of greatness into a career.

That’s where Tiedemann is now, on the cusp of breakout through. Tiedemann allowed two runs over 2 1/3 innings in Toronto's 9-6 loss to Detroit on Friday at TD Ballpark, touching 97.3 mph with that incredible fastball, but his pitch count (38) is what matters here. Sure, there’s tinkering to be done and miles to go, but nothing matters more than Tiedemann’s routine at this point.

Flashes of Tiedemann’s talent can wow you, but 180 innings of a fully realized, fully healthy Tiedemann can change the trajectory of an organization.

“That’s probably the biggest thing for me getting into pro ball, finding my routine and finding what makes me feel good each and every start,” Tiedemann said. “I think I’ve honed that in over the past two years. Obviously, it’s going to change through my career, but that’s something I really try to focus on. I watch the older starters, the veterans, and I see what they do.”

Who better than Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, José Berríos and Yusei Kikuchi to learn routines from?

All four have been durable and consistent, forming a group that single handedly kept this club afloat in 2023. If a young starter needs any more motivation, they can just look at the contracts they’ve all signed. Routines don’t just get you to the big leagues. They get you paid.

“The vets all find a way to keep it simple and not do too much when they don’t have to,” Tiedemann said. “It’s very easy to do too much when there’s really no need to. You need to do things when you need to, not just because. It’s something that I’m using more, something that I see in them and want to emulate.”

This mental growth from Tiedemann is so important when paired with his physical gifts. He’s built to pitch and has already made two jarring physical leaps with this organization, first in 2022 and then this past offseason, when he bulked up to create one of the most imposing physical presences in the Blue Jays’ clubhouse.

Along with developing those routines, his marching orders from here are clear.

“Execution,” said manager John Schneider. “He’s really sound now with his routines and understanding game plans. Now, it’s about executing. It’s about making pitches to certain hitters, understanding where their weaknesses are and how he can use his stuff against that. It’s about going out, seeing a lineup, game planning and executing.”

There’s that word again, “routines."

As that routine starts to take shape, the Blue Jays need to balance how much to push Tiedemann in Triple-A and how much to save for his big league debut, which could come quickly. If Tiedemann has 100-110 innings to work with -- and he could push a few frames past that if everything goes well -- then there’s still plenty of runway for the Blue Jays to work with.

Eventually, a team competing for a postseason spot needs its best 13 pitchers on the roster, and a healthy Tiedemann will be in that group soon if he isn’t already. Solid routines are what will let that shine all season long, though, keeping Tiedemann available for when that moment comes, and his understanding of this is just as important as those dazzling numbers on the radar gun.