Blake Tidwell
RHP Tennessee
2021 Tennessee stat line - 18-starts, 10-3, 3.74, 97.2-IP, 90-K
4-26-22 - Baseball America -
20 –
Blade Tidwell
Tennessee RHP
HT: 6-4 | Wt: 200 | B-T: R-R
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.1
Tidwell was a projection righthander out of the same Loretto high school in Tennessee that produced 2018 first-rounder Ryan Weathers. He ranked as the No. 408 prospect on the 2020 BA 500, but now possesses some of the most electric stuff in the 2022 draft class and looks like a first round arm. Tidwell posted a 3.74 ERA during the 2021 spring with Tennessee, striking out 90 batters and walking 34 over 98.2 innings. He continued to impress over the summer and a fastball that sat 93-95 mph last spring was touching 98 mph in the fall. He mostly works with that fastball and a low-to-mid-80s slider that generated whiffs at a 37% rate last spring. Tidwell has also been effective with a low-80s changeup when he’s used it, but that and a slower curveball have been infrequent offerings to this point. Tidwell’s control has wavered at times and that’s an area scouts are looking to see him improve this spring. That control was part of the reason he allowed 12 home runs in just 18 starts, so he’ll need to spot his pitches better to take more advantage of his velocity. Still, Tidwell has the sort of physicality and stuff teams covet and he also has a lengthy track record as a starter in a draft class light on such players.
4-26-22 - Nashville Post -
No. 22 - Blade Tidwell, RHP, Tennessee
“Tidwell can light up radar guns with a fastball that parks at 93-96 mph and tops out at 99 with some arm-side run, though it also straightens out and gets hit when he doesn't work up in the strike zone. He has a full array of secondary pitches. His sinking low-80s changeup generated the best swing-and-miss rate (39 percent) of any of his offerings in 2021. Tidwell does a good job of maintaining his stuff deep into games, and he still has room to add some more strength. He throws strikes but needs to improve the consistency and command of his pitches.”
4-23-22 - GoVolsXtra (@GoVolsXtra)
Blade Tidwell to start for Tennessee baseball at Florida on Saturday
4-21-22 - Prospect Live - Mock Draft 2.0 -
11. New York Mets
Blade Tidwell, Right-Handed Pitcher, Tennessee
Awarded the 11th overall pick after failing to sign Kumar Rocker, the Mets still have their organic 14th overall pick to play with as well after this. Tidwell represents one of the best pitching prospects in the country with prototype size, athleticism and stuff that should entice New York brass… and they need pitching. The Mets pick twice in the first round, so it’s a shot to land two impact players. Tidwell was banged up in the first half of this season, but he’s come back and is pitching multiple innings for the Volunteers with the stuff every bit what folks expected. He’s been 94-96, touching 98 with an above average slider and flashes a changeup. Gabriel Hughes may be a dark horse here as well. After the college arms, watch out for high school hurlers like Noah Schultz and Andrew Dutkanych.
4-15-22 - Perfect Game: Mock Draft -
17. Philadelphia Phillies | Blade Tidwell, RHP, Tennessee
Tidwell is rounding into form on his way back from an early season injury, slowly building up his innings in midweeks/relief for now but looking healthy. He’s got a plus fastball and plus breaker to his credit and has a bat-missing profile in general, with the potential of a mid-rotation starter at the big league level.
4-13-22 - 2022 MLB Draft: Top 50 College Prospects -
16. Blade Tidwell, RHP, Tennessee
A draft-eligible sophomore, Tidwell was one of the reasons the Volunteers had their best season in years in 2021. Now he should step to the front of the Vols' rotation. Tidwell has the fastball/slider combination to pile up strikeouts and the durability to be one of the better pitchers in college baseball this year.
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