Former Vols RHP Blade Tidwell has a unique nickname for his 'super weird' new pitch

Former Tennessee Vols right handed pitcher Blade Tidwell is one of the New York Mets' top prospects.  Tidwell, a second round selection by the Mets in the 2022 MLB Draft, is currently in Double-A Binghamton where he's teammates with outfielder Drew Gilbert, his former Tennessee teammate.  Tidwell has front of the rotation potential for the […]

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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Former Tennessee Vols right handed pitcher Blade Tidwell is one of the New York Mets' top prospects. 

Tidwell, a second round selection by the Mets in the 2022 MLB Draft, is currently in Double-A Binghamton where he's teammates with outfielder Drew Gilbert, his former Tennessee teammate. 

Tidwell has front of the rotation potential for the Mets, in part because of a change-up that he completely changed earlier this spring. 

“My changeup is completely different,” said Tidwell recently (via The Athletic). “I don’t know how to explain it. I don’t know. It’s just super weird.”

According to Brooklyn pitching coach Victor Ramos, Tidwell, who started the 2023 season in Brooklyn before getting promoted, has a unique nickname for the pitch (which apparently is shaped like an "airbender"…which means it should be effective against left handed hitters). 

“He calls it the Starfish,” said Ramos earlier this spring (via The Athletic). “It’s like a three-fingered grip, and he focuses on throwing a fastball with his two fingers and (the ring finger) is just a support one."

Tidwell is finding his groove with the new pitches (he also overhauled his curveball and his slider). On Tuesday night, Tidwell pitched five innings, allowing 0 runs and just four hits on 87 pitches.  

Tidwell also has one of the highest strikeout rates in the minor leagues, which bodes well for his MLB future. 

It might not be long before Tidwell and Gilbert are recreating the magic they made at Tennessee in the big leagues with the Mets. 

Featured image via Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

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