Pitcher Blade Tidwell needs to show that he's worthy of being trusted by San Francisco Giants.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Blade Tidwell has a lot to prove heading into the 2026 Major League Baseball season.
A former 52nd overall pick in the 2022 MLB draft, Tidwell entered the New York Mets farm system after standing out at the University of Tennessee. He ended his collegiate career with a 13-5 record and a 3.53 ERA from 2022 to 2025.
Tidwell wasted no time in the minors, showcasing maturity beyond his years with a calm demeanor and advanced command. He consistently worked the strike zone with confidence and precision, even leading all of minor league baseball in strikeouts with 153 during the 2023 season.
Tidwell received his first major-league call-up on May 4, 2025, on the road against the St. Louis Cardinals, according to Baseball Savant.
He came out strong early, but as his pitch count climbed, his command began to waver. He lasted just 3 2/3 innings, recording two strikeouts while issuing three walks.
The outing caused his ERA to balloon to 14.73. He showed visible difficulty getting ahead in counts and putting hitters away. While it appeared to be a case of first-game jitters or an adjustment to the speed of the major-league level, the performance left questions unanswered.
He had an opportunity for redemption a month later, June 30, 2025, against the Philadelphia Phillies. But he suffered another early exit, allowing two runs in 3 2/3 innings. That would be the last big-league appearance of Tidwell’s season.
On July 30, 2025, Tidwell was traded to the Giants as part of the deal that sent reliever Tyler Rogers to the Mets. Tidwell is expected to open with the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate. Currently, his ERA sits at 9.00, according to MLB.com, across four major-league appearances, totaling 15 innings pitched.
That reality begs the question: Does Tidwell have the ability to put the past behind him and reestablish himself as a viable pitcher within the Giants organization?
With respected baseball mind Buster Posey serving as president of baseball operations in San Francisco, there is clearly something the organization believes in when it comes to Tidwell’s upside.
Armed with a four-seam fastball capable of touching the high 90s and a complete pitch mix that includes a sweeper, sinker, slider, changeup and cutter, Tidwell has the tools to rewrite his narrative. If he can regain his command and confidence, then there may still be a path forward.
Strong MLB organizations value pitching depth, especially within the bullpen and starting rotation pipeline. If Tidwell can settle himself and return to form, then the 2026 season could mark a turning point in his career in the City by the Bay.
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