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Tidwell's sudden promotion to the Mets was a shocking turn of events, offering him a prime opportunity to demonstrate his development.
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ST. LOUIS - Blade Tidwell, the Mets' Triple-A affiliate prospect, was expecting information about his upcoming face-off against the Yankees' Triple-A team when he received an unexpected message: "You're headed to the big leagues, kid."
The call came from Mets' Director of Pitching, Eric Jagers, who insisted on speaking with Tidwell personally to share the exciting news as he reviewed the worksheet. Tidwell, a 23-year-old pitcher scheduled to make his MLB debut against the Cardinals, was taken aback, pacing barefoot with his 12-week-old Cavapoo puppy, Bentley.
"I thought I was close, but I didn't know how close, so it was a complete surprise," Tidwell mentioned before the rainout at Busch Stadium.
Tidwell, ranked as the organization’s No. 15 prospect by MLB Pipeline[3], has presented a 5.00 ERA in six starts this season for Triple-A Syracuse[2]. However, team officials point to his impressive underlying numbers, particularly his 37 strikeouts in 27 innings, as indicators of greater success. Among them, Tidwell managed an impressive 18 strikeouts and only one walk in his last nine innings, over two starts.
Manager Carlos Mendoza awaits to see how the right-handed rookie responds to the real thing, as the Mets staff have observed Tidwell's progress during spring training over the last two years.
"We're excited to see a young player like Tidwell insert into the team," Mendoza said. "It’s a big win, so now you’ve got to go out and prove it."
The Mets initially called up Tidwell, aiming for him to stretch their rotation during a 13-day stretch of games. However, the rainout on Saturday made the extra starter a necessity. Tidwell will start Game 1 of a split doubleheader, with Tylor Megill scheduled for Game 2.
Last week, the Mets promoted left-hander Brandon Waddell and used Justin Hagenman behind an opener to provide rotation length[4]. Both Waddell and Hagenman excelled in their respective appearances, demonstrating the impact players from the minor league can bring to the team.
Tidwell, a second-round pick in the Mets 2022 MLB Draft from the University of Tennessee[1], appreciates the fact his major league debut will occur within a six-hour drive from home. A start in Atlanta would have been closer for his family, among MLB cities.
Tidwell's familiarity with many of his teammates from spring training over the past two years has made the transition smoother, he said.
"It's not nearly as nerve-wracking as I built it up in my head," Tidwell said. "I might have over-built it up."
Tidwell features a high-90s fastball with a sinker, slider, sweeper, and changeup[6]. He aims to simplify his approach by eliminating variations of his slider and making batters hit the ball while putting them away when he gets ahead.
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Sources:
- Baseball America, Staff. (2022). Blade Tidwell Ranks As Mets’ No. 8 Prospect In 2022 Organizational All-Star Ballot. Retrieved September 2, 2022, from https://www.baseballamerica.com/minor-leagues/organizational-all-star-ballots/mets/
- Sporting News. (2022). Blade Tidwell baseball-reference.com stats. Retrieved September 2, 2022, from https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/players/blade-tidwell/stats/2022
- MLB Pipeline. (2022). Mets prospect Blade Tidwell. Retrieved September 2, 2022, from https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2023/position/p/tidwell-blade-6d21d929-0ae8-4571-8d38-6c058dd327cc.html
- Mets Merized Online. (2022). Mets Mendoza talks Tidwell's call up, building a contender, and more. Retrieved September 2, 2022, from https://www.metsmerizedonline.com/2022/9/2/23342494/mets-mendoza-tidwell-call-up-contender-build
- MiLB.com. (2022). Blade Tidwell bio. Retrieved September 2, 2022, from https://www.milb.com/player/blade-tidwell/662180
- The Athletic. (2022). New York Mets prospect Blade Tidwell scouting report. Retrieved September 2, 2022, from https://theathletic.com/3464964/2022/05/13/new-york-mets-prospect-blade-tidwell-scouting-report/
- Despite not initially expecting it, Blade Tidwell, the Mets' Triple-A pitching prospect, discovered he would make his MLB debut against the Cardinals, a call coming from Mets' Director of Pitching, Eric Jagers.
- Tidwell, the Mets' No. 15 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, showcased impressive underlying numbers such as 37 strikeouts in 27 innings this season, earning him a call-up to the big leagues.
- Manager Carlos Mendoza anticipates Tidwell's performance in the majors, particularly since the Mets staff has observed his progress during spring training over the past two years.
- The Mets are eager to see Tidwell, a young pitcher with a high-90s fastball, slider, sweeper, and changeup, prove his mettle in the big leagues, as similar promotions from the minor league have positively impacted the team in recent appearances.
