Blue Jays’ Tiedemann scratched from opener because of hamstring discomfort

Top Toronto Blue Jays prospect Ricky Tiedemann will not start Saturday’s spring training opener against the Philadelphia Phillies due to left hamstring discomfort, manager John Schneider said Friday.

The Jays will know more information about the severity of Tiedemann’s injury once testing is completed. Chad Dallas will take the 21-year-old’s place on the mound.

“Had a little bit of left hamstring discomfort in his conditioning. Kind of precautionary right now,” Schneider said. “We’ll get some further imaging with Rick. Encouraging that he finished his conditioning, but just kind of taking it a little bit slow with him.”

Tiedemann was the Blue Jays’ third-round pick in 2021 and has since become the most highly touted prospect in Toronto’s ranks. He spent the majority of the 2023 season in double-A New Hampshire, where he posted a 5.06 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 32 innings pitched.

Tiedemann ranks 29th overall in the MLB’s top prospect rankings, and first overall for the Blue Jays.

You can watch the Blue Jays play their first spring training game on Saturday on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+, starting at 1:07 p.m. ET / 10:07 a.m. PT, or listen live on Sportsnet 590 The Fan.