GDB -14.0: Ricky Tiedemann makes Spring Training debut as Toronto Blue Jays take on Phillies

It’s Tiedeszn.

The Toronto Blue Jays will see their top prospect take the mound Saturday afternoon, making his first appearance in this year’s Grapefruit League action. Left-handed hurler Ricky Tiedemann will make his long-awaited debut, weeks after the club was hopeful he would be the first starter in their opening Spring Training game weeks ago.

Instead, inflammation in his hamstring shut him down briefly, before he was able to work his way back up to today’s action.

Tiedemann, 21, was drafted by the Jays in the 3rd round of the 2021 draft, and has spent the last two years within various spots in the organization. The majority of his work came across 11 starts in Double-A ball, where he threw 32 innings for a 5.06 ERA. Tiedemann’s strength lies in his ability to strike out batters with a variety of pitches, including a strong fastball, a changeup, and a slider. Across those 32 innings, he had a staggering 16.3 K/9 rate.

Today, he’ll face a tough lineup of Phillies including Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Bryson Stott and Nick Castellanos.

First pitch: 1:05 p.m. EST — TV: Sportsnet. Radio: MLB.tv.

Moneyline: TOR +105; PHI -143.
Spread: TOR +1.5 -167; PHI -1.5 +135.
Over/Under: o13.5 -120; u13.5 -102.

TORONTO — LHP Ricky Tiedemann

PHILLIES – RHP Taijuan Walker

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Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.