Former Tennessee pitcher is one player that Giants manager Tony Vitello, who coached Tidwell in college, is keeping his eyes on right now.
In the 2025 MLB season, pitcher Blade Tidwell saw some action in the major leagues with the New York Mets. But Tidwell, along with phenom Drew Gilbert, were part of a trade between the San Francisco Giants and Mets last season. In that deal, the Giants sent Tyler Rogers to the Mets.
Tidwell didn't fare well in four appearances with the Mets, posting a 9.00 ERA. He ended up in the Giants' minor leagues and was due to make an appearance with the Giants' MLB club but got injured.
Still, Tidwell could not have come to a better situation for himself. Guess who's going to manage him at the big-league level? None other than his old University of Tennessee head coach, Tony Vitello. Vitello managed both Gilbert and Tidwell at the Knoxville, Tenn., school.
And don't think for one minute that Vitello does not believe in Tidwell at all. He's probably, outside of his own family and friends, Tidwell's biggest supporter.
"Blade is every bit as good or better than some of the guys who are having real, real success in the big leagues right now," Vitello said at the Winter Meetings, according to an article from Giants reporter Maria Guardado of MLB.com.
"I have high hopes for him. I joke that he's psycho. That's because he's so intense about getting better, and he really likes to compete."
Does that not sound like Tidwell's No. 1 fan? That's a good thing because a young player like Tidwell needs someone like Vitello in his corner.
"I think a whole different personality comes out when he is between the lines," Vitello said, going on at length about Tidwell. "I think that combination is one that the coaches have to be excited about working with, in particular [the] ones that are familiar with him already.
"I've always been a fan of Blade," Vitello said. "He's one of those guys that was first to say no to pro ball and come to college. In college, to have success, you've got to have a certain amount of those guys. He and Drew were the first two to do that, along with [Rockies outfielder] Jordan Beck."
Sure, the Giants have been known to use a lot of starting pitchers when needed. Just last season, the team went through 15 different starters all season long. They even had a veteran like Justin Verlander in the rotation, but it doesn't look like Verlander will be part of the Giants' plans for 2026.
Don't be surprised, Giants fans, if you end up seeing young pitchers like Tidwell, Hayden Birdsong, or Carson Whisenhunt in the mix.
Vitello is looking to put his mark on the Giants. Nothing would probably please him more than seeing one of his former Volunteers players right on that roster.