Early Impressions Of Blue Jays' Top Pitching Prospects
The Blue Jays' MLB rotation has had some missteps to start the season. But, the next wave is promising.
Ricky Tiedemann and Yosver Zulueta kicked off their 2023 campaigns with strong starts in Toronto's upper minors, while Brandon Barriera's first professional campaign is slightly delayed. Here's what to know about Toronto's top pitching prospects:
Ricky Tiedemann
If you missed it, Toronto's top young hurler made a dramatic season debut in Double-A on Thursday. The 20-year-old lefty pitched six innings, allowing two hits, no runs, and striking out nine batters. The final line: 3IP, 9K, 2H, 0BB, 0ER.
Of Tiedemann's 49 pitches, 35 fell for strikes. His efficiency was a combination of "strikes and quality strikes," Manager John Schneider said, with high-90s velocity that will beat batters at the highest levels.
“I don't know what else he needs to do at Double-A," Manager John Schneider said on Friday. "I think the biggest thing was feeling good afterward, was the big key. We know Rick can pitch, didn’t really expect that first time out, but happy for him.”
Welcome back, Ricky Tiedemann!
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 13, 2023
The @BlueJays' No. 1 prospect dials it up to 99 mph as he K's the first 6 batters he faces for the @FisherCats. pic.twitter.com/tYwWYHc64E
Tiedemann's 2023 debut was delayed a week by a spring shoulder injury. The lefty made two Spring Training appearances with the MLB club, allowing two runs in three innings, but was shut down for the back half of camp.
The lefty was capped at three innings and 50 pitches in his regular season debut and the Jays will meticulously monitor the workload throughout 2023. In his first professional season in 2021, Tiedemann worked only 76 innings, so the organization will be careful about putting too many frames on his arm this year.
"Talking to him, it was 'don't rush anything,'" Schneider said. "Don't read the outside hype of everything: when you should arrive, when you should move. Worry about where you're going and worry about what you're doing."
Yosver Zulueta
Up in Triple-A, Zulueta made his second start of the season on Friday.
It wasn't quite as clean as his opening start, though, as the righty was touched up for four runs in the second inning and finished with five ER. The outing followed up a debut where Zulueta pitched three shutout innings, striking out six.
While Zulueta struggled in his second start, the Jays have been encouraged by his control early this year. Through two starts, 64 of his 99 pitches have been in the zone. With a fastball topping out at 98 MPH and a blistering breaking ball, the 25-year-old Cuban's keys to success are staying in the zone and staying on the field.
"If he can even throw it somewhat where they want to, in the zone. If he can do that he'll have success," one member of the Blue Jays organization said.
Zulueta scaled Toronto's minors last year, pitching at four different league levels and finishing the season with a brief Bisons stint. He stayed largely healthy in 2022, and pitched 55.2 innings in his first full professional season. Previous seasons were sabotaged by an ACL tear and Tommy John surgery, but now he's at the top minors level knocking on the MLB door.
Brandon Barriera
The Jays are "being super cautious" with Barriera to start the year, as he dealt with shoulder issues in spring, per Jim Callis. The Jays are expecting to push him into full-season action at some point this year, either at the Complex League or at Single-A Dunedin.
Barriera shut down early last year, stepping away from his final high school season to stay healthy for the 2022 MLB Draft, so he hasn't seen game action in a year. Being out of action for so long has "been a little awkward," the lefty said during spring, but Barriera's goal for 2023 is to get back into games and pitch a full season of work.
"Go out there, play the game, but you also want to be out there the whole of the year," Barriera said. "So that's my main goal."
Mitch Bannon is a baseball reporter for Sports Illustrated covering the Toronto Blue Jays and their minor league affiliates.Twitter: @MitchBannon