The Toronto Blue Jays added left-handed pitcher Ricky Tiedemann to their 40-man roster ahead of Tuesday’s protection deadline in preparation for MLB’s Rule 5 draft. Despite a lost 2025 season due to surgery and an injury-plagued minor-league career, the former top prospect could be a weapon for the 2026 Jays in an altered role.
Though the Jays held three open roster spots, Tiedemann was the lone prospect protected ahead of the Dec. 10 Rule 5 draft. Since arriving in Toronto’s minors in 2022, the deceptive southpaw has tantalized with high strikeout numbers and upper-90s velocity. However, he’s never pitched more than 78 2/3 innings in a professional season, as he’s dealt with arm injuries.
After throwing 17 1/3 innings in 2024 and missing all of 2025 due to Tommy John surgery, the Jays expect Tiedemann to enter next spring healthy again, general manager Ross Atkins said after the season. Tiedemann touched 98 mph as he returned from surgery, impressing Blue Jays rehab coaches with his recovery before a minor setback prevented him from entering late-season game action.
“We are much more optimistic this year than we were last,” Atkins said.
Tiedemann entered 2025 ranked seventh on Keith Law’s Blue Jays prospect list. He was the organization’s top prospect a year prior, but Tiedemann doesn’t possess the same top-of-rotation upside these days. The issue is innings. He hasn’t made more than 18 starts in a professional season and averaged under four innings per outing in his minor-league career.
Entering 2026, the lefty will likely transition into more short-burst outings. He may not begin the season in Toronto’s bullpen, as the relief group already appears crowded and will welcome at least one more arm this winter. Still, Tiedemann can likely stretch out his endurance enough to be a once-through-the-order weapon or one-inning southpaw for the Jays to call on when needed.
While Brendon Little, Eric Lauer and Mason Fluharty will be Toronto’s top left-handed relievers entering 2026, Adam Macko and Tiedemann will be next in line.
Tiedemann, with his prospect pedigree and high-whiff stuff, was an obvious addition to Toronto’s 40-man roster. He would’ve almost certainly been picked by another club in the Rule 5 draft if left unprotected. However, the Jays did leave a few other upper-minors prospects off the roster who could draw interest.
Teams may see infielder Josh Kasevich, though injured for much of 2025, as a glove-first backup across the diamond. Outfielder Yohendrick Piñango could crack a lesser roster as a fourth outfielder after posting a .790 OPS and high walk rate in the upper minors. Piñango was left off in part due to Toronto’s outfield surplus. Blue Jays prospect relievers T.J. Brock and Ryan Jennings could carve out roles in big league bullpens, as well.
Any player selected in the Rule 5 draft must stay on a 26-man roster throughout the 2026 season, or be returned to their original team.
