Blue Jays Ricky Tiedemann drops in updated Baseball America prospect rankings

With the regular baseball season now 40% in the books, Baseball America (subscription required) has updated their top 100 prospect ranking to account for players who’ve graduated to the majors, including three top 10 preseason prospects in Orioles’ infielder Gunnar Henderson, Diamondbacks OF Corbin Carroll and Yankees SS Anthony Volpe. Other prospects have seen their stock rise or fall, depending on their play this year. According to BA, “these Top 100 updates are fueled by feedback from the industry and data gathered from sources.”

Ricky Tiedemann

Unfortunately for Jays fans, only one prospect made the list: southpaw starter Ricky Tiedemann. He fell from No. 31 in the preseason ranking when he was the top ranked left-handed pitching prospect, to No. 54. His tough start at AA New Hampshire (4.97 ERA in 4 starts covering only 12.2 innings, with 7 walks and 23 strikeouts) has lowered his stock, plus he hasn’t pitched since May 4th after injuring his left biceps. He now ranks fourth among lefty pitching prospects behind Kyle Harrison (Giants, 24), Logan Allen (Guardians, 40) and Matthew Liberatore (Cardinals, 46).

As per Baseball America, “The injury bug finally bit Tiedemann as he's been on the shelf for a month with what's been billed as a [left] biceps injury. After dealing with a shoulder issue at the end of spring training this was unwelcome news for the Blue Jays top prospect. The Blue Jays have managed Tiedemann's workload dating back to prior to last year's All-Star Break, as he's only exceeded 60 pitches just once since July 8 of 2022. There's some concern that the current injury could shelve Tiedemann for a good chunk of the summer.”

According to Sports Illustrated's Mitch Bannon, Tiedemann was likely to start a throwing progression in the first week of June.

Nick Frasso

In a development that might sting a bit for Toronto fans, former Blue Jay farmhand Nick Frasso, who was traded in the 2022 trade deadline deal for Mitch White, debuted on the BA top 100 ranking at #68. As per Baseball America, “acquired from the Blue Jays at last year’s trade deadline, Frasso has blossomed in the Dodgers organization and emerged as a dominant force at Double-A Tulsa. His 94-98 mph fastball explodes on hitters with the deception in his delivery and his slider and changeup have come along to be viable secondaries. As long as he stays healthy, he has a chance to be a mid-rotation starter.”

He’s part of a wave of MLB-ready pitching in the Dodgers organization, with five of their pitchers making the updated top 100 ranking, including Bobby Miller at 9, Ryan Pepiot at 51, Gavin Stone at 52 and Emmet Sheeran at 54. Other farm systems appear well stocked on the pitching front as well; the Guardians featuring four pitchers in the top 100 (Gavin Williams at 10, Tanner Bibee at 12, Logan Allen at 40 and Daniel Espino at 81).

Hopefully Ricky can get back on track with his throwing progression and make some noise in the ranking update due out later this summer around the August 1st MLB trade deadline. And could some other prospects in the Blue Jays organization also get some consideration as well, like Adam Kloffenstein or Chad Dallas at AA New Hampshire, or Trenton Wallace who was just promoted to the Fisher Cats after a 5-2 start with a 1.79 ERA over 40.1 innings (and 47 Ks against only 11 walks) with the High-A Vancouver Canadians? Garrett Spain has also been making some noise at Vancouver with a .341/.378/.659/1.037 slash line, as have Alan Roden, Rainer Nunez and Cade Doughty.