Mets' Blade Tidwell surprised by first promotion to majors
Mets pitching prospect Blade Tidwell during a spring training workout in Port St. Lucie Florida, last February. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
ST. LOUIS — Blade Tidwell was at home in Syracuse on Friday morning when he learned he was headed to the major leagues for the first time. The next step for the Mets’ 23-year-old righthanded pitching prospect was a literal one.
“I grabbed my puppy,” he said, “and I walked barefooted outside and just paced around a little bit, called my parents. It was pretty exciting.”
Bentley, a 12-week-old cavapoo, won’t be at Busch Stadium on Sunday, when Tidwell debuts in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cardinals. But the coincidental circumstances of Tidwell’s call-up allow plenty of others to be.
St. Louis is a six-hour drive from Tidwell’s hometown of Loretto, Tenneessee (population, according to the most recent census data: 1,739). The only closer major-league city is Atlanta, which is 4 1⁄2 hours away.
So that makes it awfully easy for Tidwell’s parents, Vashon and Debbie, and who knows how many others to get to the ballpark for Blade’s big day.
“I think half of my hometown is coming,” Tidwell said.
That Tidwell’s promotion came now was a “complete surprise,” he said. In the Mets’ view, his 5.00 ERA with Triple-A Syracuse is not indicative of how well he has pitched. They especially like the consistency with which he throws strikes, racking up 37 strikeouts to 10 walks in 27 innings.
“Just sticking to my process. That helps a lot,” Tidwell said. “I don’t really look too far into the statistics this early, because the BABIP [batting average on balls in play] was high. Usually that’s going to equal out over time. If I keep throwing the way I am, especially down there, it would’ve all equaled out.”
In his past two outings, he has 18 strikeouts and one walk in nine innings. The Mets deemed him ready — or ready enough, at least, to mesh with their desire to insert a spot starter.
“I thought I was close, but I didn’t know how close,” Tidwell said.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said: “It’s always exciting when you’re talking about a guy who everybody knows about, a prospect. It’s inserting more youth to the team. It’s always a good time. A lot of people should feel proud of him. A lot of people had a hand in it, especially in player development, scouting. Now he’s gotta go out and do it.”
Tidwell found out he was headed to the majors when vice president of pitching Eric Jagers called him early Friday. Ostensibly, Jagers was reaching out about the usual pre-start info sheet the Mets give pitchers to brief them on the opposing lineup. When Tidwell’s came through, though, it didn’t feature the Yankees minor-leaguers he was expecting.
“He was FaceTiming me, which was weird,” Tidwell said. “He said, ‘I tweaked the pregame sheet, let me know what you think. I’m sending it right now.’ It was 9:30 in the morning . . . And then in big, huge letters it said, you’re going to the big leagues, kid.”
As for the puppy? Tidwell left Bentley behind with outfielder Drew Gilbert, his former University of Tennessee teammate and current Mets peer.
Does he trust Gilbert?
“Not really,” Tidwell said with a laugh.
Rainy rain go away
The Mets endured their annual St. Louis rainout Saturday afternoon, setting up the Sunday doubleheader.
The Cardinals elected to go with the split-admission variety, meaning they can get two separate fare-paying crowds in on the same day. First pitches are scheduled for 1:15 p.m. ET and 6:15 p.m. ET.
Erick Fedde will pitch opposite Tidwell in the opener. Tylor Megill will face the Cardinals’ Andre Pallante in the nightcap.
Blackburn update
Paul Blackburn (right knee inflammation and then a stomach bug) restarted his rehab assignment with High-A Brooklyn on Friday, tossing three innings (41 pitches). He allowed two runs, struck out six and walked none.
Blackburn recently said his next outing will come with Syracuse. Mendoza said the Mets want to build Blackburn up to at least 75 pitches before bringing him back to the majors.
“But we’ll be flexible if we need to adjust, depending on if we need someone here and he feels like he’s ready to go for big-league competition,” Mendoza said. “If not, we will continue to build him up.”
Where’s Diaz?
Saturday marked a week since Edwin Diaz last pitched. Before the Mets’ postponement, Mendoza indicated he wanted to get Diaz in the game even if it wasn’t a save situation.
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
