Another Tennessee player from the Tony Vitello era will play in Major League Baseball.
The Mets called up pitcher Blade Tidwell from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. New York’s No. 15 prospect’s last pitching appearance was for Syracuse on April 27. He totaled nine strikeouts, while allowing seven hits and four runs.
Tidwell is expected to make his MLB debut on Sunday at St. Louis.
“Per multiple reports, the Mets are calling up Blade Tidwell to start on Sunday in St. Louis,” SNY announced.
Tidwell will be the ninth Vol to play in MLB from the Vitello era, joining Garrett Crochet, Chase Silseth, Ben Joyce, Andre Lipcius, Trey Lipscomb, Jordan Beck, Seth Halvorsen and Chase Dollander.
Tidwell was selected by the Mets the second round (No. 52 overall) of the 2022 MLB draft.
He played at Tennessee from 2021-2022. In 2021 as a freshman, Tidwell compiled a 10-3 record and 3.74 ERA, while recording 90 strikeouts in 98.2 innings.
The 6-foot-4, 207-pound Tidwell (3-2) appeared in 13 games for the Vols in 2022. He recorded 51 strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA during the 2022 campaign.
Tidwell is from Loretto High School in Loretto, Tennessee.
The Vols won the Southeastern Conference East division, the SEC regular season championship and SEC Tournament title in 2022.
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