2 Mets minor leaguers whose stock went up in spring training, 2 who saw theirs drop

Mets pitching prospect Blade Tidwell failed to dazzle

Flying under the radar on the top Mets prospect lists is Blade Tidwell. Drafted in the second round in 2022, he had a good but not great 2023 season.

It started in Brooklyn going 8-3 with a 3.09 ERA. However, in 8 starts with Binghamton, Tidwell would finish 3-3 with a 4.72 ERA. Considering this was only his first full professional season, it should be considered a success. He averaged 11.9 strikeouts per 9 with control issues being one of his bigger weaknesses.

Wildness wasn’t his problem this spring. Tidwell made only one appearance in spring training. In the March 1 game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Tidwell was tagged for 3 earned runs in 1.2 innings of work. While he did pick up 4 strikeouts, several other Cardinals had no problem making contact.

Tidwell shouldn’t be overlooked as a candidate to win this year’s Mets Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award. Last season was a funky one with many others outperforming expectations. Tidwell was good, just not excellent. His spring training appearance and lack of success to come from it doesn’t change his standing among the top prospects. However, the struggles he faced in camp serve as a reminder that 2024 is probably not the year we see him at Citi Field.