Blue Jays prospect Tiedemann making strides

Nestled in a minor-league workout area away from the big-league training fields at the Blue Jays' player development complex, Ricky Tiedemann lowers his six-foot-four 220-pound frame into a deep squat. 

Nestled in a minor-league workout area away from the big-league training fields at the Blue Jays’ player development complex, Ricky Tiedemann lowers his six-foot-four 220-pound frame into a deep squat.

Sporting a sleeve on his surgically repaired left arm, the highly ranked prospect is shifting weight, loosening his hips, and re-establishing pitching stances as he continues a slow buildup for what he hopes is a return to play in late summer.

“I feel great. I feel brand new again,” Tiedemann said.

The 22-year-old southpaw underwent Tommy John surgery last July, a procedure that typically comes with a recovery time of 12-14 months.

A 2026 return is more likely for Toronto’s fourth-ranked prospect, who has dazzled in the minor leagues since being selected by the Blue Jays in the third round of the 2021 draft.

“It’s always as soon as possible,” Tiedemann said of his return. “I don’t have a date set in my mind. It’s more how I’m feeling right now. I don’t want to look too far ahead. When you look too far ahead, you forget how things are going right now.

“You don’t want to do that. You want to take it a day at a time.”

For Tiedemann, injury rehabilitation is a process he knows well. He has been saddled with various issues throughout his young career.