New York, N.Y. — The New York Mets are set to elevate right-handed pitcher Blade Tidwell to the major leagues, according to reports. Tidwell is expected to join the team in St. Louis for their weekend series, where he is slated to make his big-league debut as a starter on Sunday, filling in for an unspecified pitcher.
At just 23 years old, Tidwell was selected by the Mets in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft after a standout collegiate career at the University of Tennessee. He has quickly garnered attention, sitting among the top 15 prospects in the Mets organization, as noted by both Baseball America and MLB.com.
Standing at 6 feet 4 inches, Tidwell has been honing his skills during his second stint at the Triple-A level this season. Although his ERA sits at an unflattering 5.00, his underlying metrics present a more favorable picture. He boasts a 31.6% strikeout rate and an 8.5% walk rate, suggesting he has been effective at processing hitters. His fastball velocity has seen an uptick, averaging 96 mph, up from 94.7 mph last year, and his swinging-strike rate increased from 11.6% to 14.5%, indicating improved effectiveness.
Despite struggles in his initial Double-A appearance in 2023, Tidwell showed resilience by dominating in Double-A during the 2024 season before being promoted to Triple-A. Last season, he faced challenges with command in 17 starts at the higher level. However, the numbers from this season imply that he is making strides similar to his earlier progress.
Tidwell’s promotion may be temporary, as the Mets are currently managing an injury-plagued rotation that has already seen multiple players sidelined. Nevertheless, the team still has five healthy starters—Clay Holmes, Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Tylor Megill, and Griffin Canning—each of whom has an impressive ERA of 3.06 or lower. The Mets lead Major League Baseball with a remarkable rotation ERA of 2.24.
To accommodate Tidwell’s addition to the roster, the Mets will need to make moves on both their 26-man and 40-man rosters, as they are currently at full capacity. The injuries to outfielder Jose Siri and pitcher Danny Young could allow the Mets to promote Tidwell without needing to designate another player for assignment.
As the Mets continue to navigate a challenging season, Tidwell’s debut represents a significant opportunity for both the player and the team. Fans will be eager to see if he can translate his potential into success on the mound as the Mets look to strengthen their pitching corps during a crucial stretch of the season.