Blue Jays: 3 biggest storylines through 3 weeks of Spring Training

From the time pitchers and catchers report, to the first game of Grapefruit League action and the final roster announcements, a lot can happen over the course of Spring Training.

Here are the three biggest storylines from the first half of the Blue Jays' camp.

No. 3: Ricky Tiedemann makes his spectacular debut

Top prospect Ricky Tiedemann made waves in camp and dazzled in his first Grapefruit League outing.

When the 20-year-old phenom arrived in camp, all eyes were on him. Even veterans like Kevin Kiermaier took notice.

Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reported that Tiedemann left a strong impression on the Jays' new center fielder after an early intra-squad game. Kiermaier exclaimed he was "blown away" by the talent of the young lefty.

I'm going to remember that name, and everyone else in the baseball world needs to as well. He's going to be around for a long time and he's going to be dominating. I can almost guarantee that right now.

Tiedemann sparkled in his Grapefruit League debut and showed why there's so much excitement around his meteoric rise. He needed only 12 pitches to dominate the Tigers. He rang up two strikeouts, including a 99 mph punchout of Javier Báez.

Fans clamoring for his inclusion on the Opening Day roster were brought back down to earth after his second so-so outing.

With some minor shoulder soreness that shut the southpaw down following his second appearance, Tiedemann finished his time in the big league camp with a 6.00 ERA, four strikeouts and a walk in three innings.

He was finally, and inevitably, sent down to minor league camp in the team's first round of roster cuts.

As a non-roster invitee who only pitched up to Double-A last season, it was a long shot for Tiedemann to make the Opening Day roster, but he provided the team and fans a glimpse of things to come.

No. 2: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s knee injury

While Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s right knee injury turned out to be minor, there's hand-wringing to be done anytime your star slugger and franchise cornerstone goes down.

After feeling the discomfort on March 3 while rounding first and making his way to second, Guerrero promptly removed himself from the game. The team ran tests and reported only inflammation, no structural damage.

Almost immediately, Guerrero pulled out of the World Baseball Classic. He was scheduled to leave camp that weekend to meet his Dominican Republic teammates in Miami. Guerrero and the Blue Jays were obviously thinking of the team's goals for 2023 and played it safe.

Luckily, the knee discomfort didn't appear to be a big concern. Guerrero even made light of the situation, posting a hilarious reaction to his "injury" on Twitter.

After some time off, the 24-year-old superstar began light work and quickly progressed to baserunning and fielding drills. When he returned to game action on March 15, less than two weeks after the initial injury, he showed no ill effects.

As if to show that he was 100%, Guerrero turned up the intensity. Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling made note of his hustle down the line during his first plate appearance.

That’s a home-to-first time of 4.79 seconds, only two-tenths of a second off Guerrero’s 2022 season average. His 28.2 foot-per-second sprint speed was the fastest he’s recorded in a tracked game this spring and would have ranked within his 50 quickest sprints up the first base line last season.

He then launched a 113.6 mph double in his next at-bat.

Per Zwelling, "There was no holding anything back. No easing his way in. Guerrero went full-send as soon as he had the opportunity."

Blue Jays fans can breathe a sigh of relief now that the almost two-week saga of the sore right knee is in the rearview mirror.