Ricky Tiedemann, a left-handed pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, is currently ranked 31st among all MLB prospects on Baseball America’s list of the top 100 players to watch in 2023.

 

The 20-year-old caused a stir with his stellar 2022 campaign, compiling a 2.17 ERA in 78.2 innings played at three different levels. Additionally, he only walked 29 hitters while striking out 117.

 

Tiedemann, the top-ranked southpaw, was described as having a starter’s toolkit with the body of a workhorse starter in Baseball America’s assessment. “Armed with a mid-90s fastball, a plus-plus changeup, a plus slider, and above-average command,” the publication wrote.

 

Tiedemann lost a few ranks after including players like New York Mets starter Kodai Senga, who was ranked 16th, and the ascent of talents like Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood, who went from 36th to 11th. Tiedemann was ranked 28th on Baseball America’s final report in 2022.

 

Gabriel Moreno, a former Blue Jays catcher, descended the list. Before the start of 2023, the 22-year-old dropped from third on the 2022 ranking to twelve.

 

Of course, the Blue Jays sent Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Moreno to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Daulton Varsho. The talented catcher hit.319 with one home run in 25 games for Toronto while stopping 42% of would-be base stealers.

 

For the second consecutive year, the Baltimore Orioles have the top prospect. Gunnar Henderson, a third baseman, is at the top of the list after catcher Adley Rutschman graduated last year.

 

Last year, Henderson played 34 games for the MLB, hitting.259 with a.348 on-base percentage. In his first 132 at-bats, he added four more home runs.

 

Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Jackson Chourio of the Milwaukee Brewers, Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals, and Andrew Painter of the Philadelphia Phillies round out the top five.

 

With eight players nominated to the list, the Orioles finished first among all teams, followed by the Cleveland Guardians with seven.

 

Catcher Bo Naylor, the only Canadian in the top 100, is one of those seven, coming in at number 68. The postseason roster included Naylor, who was promoted to Cleveland at the conclusion of the previous campaign.

 

While Tiedemann was the only Blue Jay on the list, pitchers Yosver Zulueta and Brandon Barriera are placed second and third. In contrast, in Baseball America’s team rankings, infielders Addison Barger and Orelvis Martinez are listed fourth and fifth.