Blue Jays promote former top pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann

Ricky Tiedemann is finally a Toronto Blue Jay after years of anticipation and setbacks. 

Chase Lee was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo in the corresponding move.

Tiedemann, 23, arrives after throwing just three innings at Triple-A Buffalo, which speaks to both his talent and the threadbareness of the Blue Jays’ pitching depth amid their ongoing injuries.

Much is still to be determined: his role, his readiness, and whether he’ll be an effective MLB pitcher. But what matters right now is that he's finally here after a journey that took longer than expected. 

Can Tiedemann help the Blue Jays make the playoffs in 2026? 

It’s all hands-on-deck for the Blue Jays, as they entered Saturday just one game back of the final American League Wild Card spot currently occupied by the Detroit Tigers. They’re one of several teams jockeying for the position. 

Toronto’s improved play of late has largely been fueled by strong starting pitching and tighter defensive work. However, recent injuries to Trey Yesavage and Jameson Taillon have created holes to fill—enter Tiedemann. 

The Blue Jays selected the left-hander 91st overall in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft. He dominated the lower minor leagues upon arrival in 2022, quickly emerging as the organization’s top pitching prospect. 

Injuries then derailed his upward trajectory as he was limited to just 44 innings in 2023. Things got even worse in 2024 when what started as an IL stint for ulnar nerve irritation in April ended with him requiring Tommy John surgery in July, ultimately costing him the remainder of the season and all of 2025. 

His health hasn’t been much better in 2026, either, having just worked his way back from elbow soreness and a neck issue. Yet the Blue Jays are seemingly wasting no time now that his rehab assignment is in the rearview mirror, wanting him on their roster right away. 

It’s not hard to understand why. Tiedemann throws his fastball in the mid-to-upper 90s, which is a rarity from the left side. That kind of velocity will absolutely play at the major league level if he can command it. 

The current roster is in desperate need of a southpaw with some heat. All of their starting pitchers are right-handed, and Mason Fluharty is the lone lefty in the bullpen with Brendon Little on the paternity list. Neither of those two can ratchet it up like that, anyway. 

So what can Tiedemann actually give the Blue Jays right now? It’s hard to know given his injury history and minimal track record in the upper minors. Expecting him to be this year’s Trey Yesavage would be extremely unfair. He likely won’t start games, but could perhaps get stretched out for multiple innings. 

Still, while Tiedemann isn’t likely to be recording quality starts or racking up double-digit strikeouts, it’s not hard to imagine him making a difference out of the bullpen down the stretch. That would be a huge boost for the Blue Jays as they battle for their lives every single night. 

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