Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ricky Tiedemann throws live batting practice during Spring Training action in Dunedin, Fla. on Feb. 17.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
Blue Jays top prospect Ricky Tiedemann did some minor tinkering with his workout routine in the off-season and it led to some major results.
His stuff on the mound has drawn raves too.
The 21-year-old left-hander added more muscle to his six-foot-four frame over the winter. The extra mass has helped with daily recovery, Tiedemann said, adding he feels strong and ready to take his game to the next level.
“He has really good momentum coming into this camp, he’s obviously in tremendous shape,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “We just want to see him pitch. We want to build him up properly and just see him.
“His stuff is pretty damn good. We’re interested to see how it’s going to play against hitters this spring.”
Left biceps inflammation cut into Tiedemann’s innings total last season, when he pitched 44 frames across four minor-league levels. He also spent time in the Arizona Fall League and was named pitcher of the year after striking out 23 batters over 18 innings.
Tiedemann said he increased his meal portions slightly and started using heavier weights in recent months. He incorporated more traditional lifts like squats and deadlifts into a more consistent routine and the benefits were noticeable.
“I think just having that little bit more size kind of helps you recover a little bit better,” he said Sunday. “I think right now it’s just a matter of loosening back up and getting into throwing shape rather than being as strong as I possibly can.
“So it’s just that ramp-up stage (now) where you’re just trying to get as loose as possible for the season and then also try to maintain that strength throughout the year as well.”
A third-round pick (91st overall) in the 2021 draft, Tiedemann is Toronto’s highest-ranked prospect at No. 29 on MLB Pipeline’s list.
Players and coaches gathered at the team’s development complex to watch the southpaw throw live batting practice over the weekend.
“He’s got a booming fastball,” said catcher Danny Jansen. “Obviously, he’s got a good slider and a good change-up as well. So it’s exciting to have that arm. And he’s a great guy too. That combo is awesome.”
As tempting as it might be to slot a youngster like Tiedemann into the five-man rotation, chances are good he’ll continue his development in the minor leagues this season.
The Blue Jays have one of the deepest rotations in the big leagues with Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt and Yusei Kikuchi anchored in the top four. Alek Manoah is a good bet for the fifth spot with Bowden Francis, Mitch White and Yariel Rodriguez also in the mix.
“He needs to pitch,” Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker said of Tiedemann. “You never know if someone is big-league ready until they’re there and see how they respond. It’s a different animal at that level.
“But I do love his stuff and I love his presence, his work ethic and his focus. He has all the intangibles to be a great major-league starter and it’s just a matter of when that time is.”
Tiedemann boasts a high-90s fastball with a sweeping slider and change-up that can handcuff hitters.
“Everyone falls in love with his heater, (his) good breaking ball and his arm slot and all that stuff,” Schneider said. “But I think the change-up is a huge pitch for him. When you’re talking about a starter especially and getting deeper into games.”
Tiedemann said his immediate goal is to build up his innings and be a reliable option every fifth day. And he feels that he’s ready to crack Toronto’s five-man rotation.
“I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel like I could,” he said. “But I mean it’s obviously up to them. I just have to make sure I’m doing my job on my end and be ready for when that time comes.”
Notes: The Blue Jays agreed to terms with designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach on a minor-league contract with an invite to big-league spring training. He hit .233 with 13 homers and 48 RBIs over 104 games with the New York Mets last season.
GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Canada’s Marina Stakusic fell 6-4, 6-3 to Poland’s Magdalena Frech in the quarterfinals of the Guadalajara Open tennis tournament on Friday.
The 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., won 61 per cent of her first-serve points and broke on just one of her six opportunities.
Stakusic had upset top-seeded Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (0) on Thursday night to advance.
In the opening round, Stakusic defeated Slovakia’s Anna Karolína Schmiedlová 6-2, 6-4 on Tuesday.
The fifth-seeded Frech won 62 per cent of her first-serve points and converted on three of her nine break point opportunities.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
TORONTO – Alejandro Kirk’s long single with the bases loaded provided the Toronto Blue Jays with a walk-off 4-3 win in the 11th inning of their series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.
With the Cardinals outfield in, Kirk drove a shot off the base of the left-field wall to give the Blue Jays (70-78) their fourth win in 11 outings and halt the Cardinals’ (74-73) two-game win streak before 30,380 at Rogers Centre.
Kirk enjoyed a two-hit, two-RBI outing.
Erik Swanson (2-2) pitched a perfect 11th inning for the win, while Cardinals reliever Ryan Fernandez (1-5) took the loss.
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman enjoyed a seven-inning, 104-pitch outing. He surrendered his two runs on nine hits and two walks and fanned only two Cardinals.
He gave way to reliever Genesis Cabrera, who gave up a one-out homer to Thomas Saggese, his first in 2024, that tied the game in the eighth.
The Cardinals started swiftly with four straight singles to open the game. But they exited the first inning with only two runs on an RBI single to centre from Nolan Arendao and a fielder’s choice from Saggese.
Gausman required 28 pitches to escape the first inning but settled down to allow his teammates to snatch the lead in the fourth.
He also deftly pitched out of threats from the visitors in the fifth, sixth and seventh thanks to some solid defence, including Will Wagner’s diving stop, which led to a double play to end the fifth inning.
George Springer led off with a walk and stole second base. He advanced to third on Nathan Lukes’s single and scored when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. knocked in his 95th run with a double off the left-field wall.
Lukes scored on a sacrifice fly to left field from Spencer Horwitz. Guerrero touched home on Kirk’s two-out single to right.
In the ninth, Guerrero made a critical diving catch on an Arenado grounder to throw out the Cardinals’ infielder, with reliever Tommy Nance covering first. The defensive gem ended the inning with a runner on second base.
St. Louis starter Erick Fedde faced the minimum night batters in the first three innings thanks to a pair of double plays. He lasted five innings, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
ON DECK
Toronto ace Jose Berrios (15-9) will start the second of the three-game series on Saturday. He has a six-game win streak.
The Cardinals will counter with righty Kyle Gibson (8-6).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
BRUSSELS – Canadian shot putter Sarah Mitton rebounded from a disappointing performance at the Paris Olympics by capturing Diamond League gold on Friday.
Mitton, of Brooklyn, N.S., won the competition, the final Diamond League event of the season, with a heave of 20.25 metres on her third throw.
Chase Jackson of the U.S. placed second with a throw of 19.90, while German’s Yemisi Ogunleye, the Olympic gold medallist, claimed bronze with a toss of 19.72.
Mitton, the runner-up of last year’s world championship, failed to qualify for the top eight in Paris.
Edmonton runner Marco Arop, who won silver for Canada in the men’s 800 metres at the Paris Games, was scheduled to race in the 800 on Saturday.
Olympic bronze-medallist Alysha Newman, of London, Ont., also competes Saturday in the women’s pole vault.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
