Ricky Tiedemann just can’t catch a break.
The Toronto Blue Jays’ 23-year-old pitcher has been waiting for two years to cash in on the prospect hype that heralded him one of the most talented arms in the organization.
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After entering the Jays’ spring training camp healthy, and pitching to teammates in live batting practice, Tuesday’s news hit the ground with a thud: Tiedemann is being shut down for a week with soreness in his throwing elbow.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Ricky Tiedemann is shut down for a week due to left elbow soreness after a recent side. MRI revealed no structural damage.
Righty prospect Chay Yeager is at Dr Keith Meister today with surgery possible after soreness in live BP last week.
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) February 24, 2026
Tiedemann underwent an MRI that revealed no structural damage. But even the presence of inflammation in the same left elbow that kept Tiedemann from pitching in a minor league game since July 2024 is cause for concern.
Ricky Tiedemann vs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (walk).
It’s a big spring for the #BlueJays’ former No. 1 prospect, who’s healthy after a long rehab from Tommy John. Tiedemann is still just 23. pic.twitter.com/0huXFlaUKg
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) February 13, 2026
Tiedemann was the Blue Jays’ third-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, and the 2023 Arizona Fall League Pitcher of the Year.
Tiedemann was only 21 when he made his debut at Triple-A Buffalo in 2023. He was set to repeat the level in 2024 when the ligament damage interrupted his career, necessitating Tommy John surgery.
Against this backdrop, waiting a week to resume a throwing program is a minor bump in the road. Still, the news comes mere days after Tiedemann provided a glowing self-assessment after throwing to hitters.
“I feel amazing. Everything feels great,” Tiedemann told Keegan Matheson of MLB.com last week. “It’s just about seeing live batters and getting that feel back, but health-wise? Everything’s been money.”
For fans hoping to see Tiedemann make his spring training debut, this camp just got a little bit longer.
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