Blade Tidwell, Rhylan Thomas Promoted To Triple-A Syracuse

The New York Mets are reportedly set to make more promotions on Sunday. According to Will Sammon of the Athletic, the Mets are promoting pitcher Blade Tidwell and outfielder Rhylan Thomas from Double-A Binghamton to Triple-A Syracuse. This coming after it was reported that two-way player Nolan McLean was being promoted from High-A Brooklyn to Double-A Binghamton earlier Sunday afternoon.

Tidwell was drafted by New York in the second round of the 2022 MLB Amateur Draft from the University of Tennessee. The now 23-year-old has appeared in five games for Double-A Binghamton this year, tossing 37 1/3 innings with a strong 2.41 ERA. Tidwell has struck out 44 batters this season to go along with only 11 walks. His FIP and xFIP of 2.41 and 3.21, respectively, further indicate an extremely strong season thus far for the right-handed starter.

Last season, Tidwell split time with High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton. In total, he posted a 3.88 ERA across 116 innings. He struck out 153 batters but did struggle with walks, giving up 63 free passes. The year he was drafted, 2022, Tidwell threw 9 1/3 innings between the Florida Complex League and with Low-A St. Lucie, allowing just two runs.

Tidwell, who has developed a new cutter this season in Double-A, has showcased strong stuff and the ability to be a top prospect sine debuting as a professional. With arguably his biggest weakness the last couple years, walking batters, improving immensely so far this season (dropped 4% points from last season and at a career-low 7.5%), he is an extremely intriguing prospect that may help the Mets before season’s end.

Meanwhile, 24-year-old Rhylan Thomas is set to reach the Triple-A level for the first time in his career. After an extremely strong 2023 (.832 OPS across three different levels), Thomas has backed that up this year with a .315/.373/.391 slash line thus far.

The former 11th-round draft selection has a unique skill set where he hits for high average while not striking out much to go along with a solid eye at the plate. This evident by the fact he walked just as many times as he struck out over his college career and he posted an absurdly high .407 on-base percentage last season.

Tidwell and Thomas join a Triple-A Syracuse team which has been tremendous this year. The Triple-A Mets are 27-16 on the season and feature top prospects in Luisangel Acuña, Dom Hamel, and Mike Vasil.

Tidwell was Metsmerized’s preseason No. 12 prospect in the system. Thomas was not ranked within Metsmerized’s preseason top 35.

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