Former Vols star Tidwell MLB debut ‘awesome, indescribable’

FLORENCE — Former University of Tennessee pitcher Blade Tidwell made his Major League debut Sunday with the New York Mets, getting the start against the Cardinals in St. Louis.

Tidwell’s parents, grandparents, and several family members and friends made the 400-mile trip from his hometown of Loretto, Tenn., to see him take the field.  

“I’m super excited and pumped to help the team,” Tidwell, 23, said Friday about receiving the news of his call-up.

Tidwell, who wore No. 40 on Sunday, got good wishes from former Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon, who also wore No. 40. 

Welcome to The Show @bladetid, May the 4(0)th be with you 🔥 #LGM pic.twitter.com/N2PrlkxzYK

— Bartolo Colon (@BColon40) May 4, 2025

“Welcome to The Show, May the 4(0)th be with you. #LGM,” Colon posted, in a nod to the date and the iconic Star Wars line: “May the Force be with you.”

After the Mets took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Tidwell threw his first pitch, a fastball, for a strike and retired three of the first four batters he faced. He picked up his first big league strikeout in the second inning.

Unfortunately, he also picked up the loss in his debut. He went 3 2/3 innings, running into trouble in the fourth. While he hit 98 mph with his fastball, his off-speed stuff was a little … off, resulting in a shortened appearance. His final line was nine hits, six earned runs, three walks, and two strikeouts in the Mets 6-5 loss.

In the postgame interview, Tidwell was realistic about what he needs to work on.

“I lost command there at the end,” he said. “Just getting ahead of guys and putting them away once I’m there.”

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said the club sees Tidwell’s potential, and he concurred with  the rookie’s performance critique.

“We saw flashes of his potential, especially with the life on this fastball,” Mendoza said. “But we also saw that there’s room for development, especially with the secondary pitches. At this level, you’re going to need pitches to put hitters away, but also you’re going to need secondary pitches to get back in counts.

“Those are some of the things that he will continue to work on, but again, we saw flashes of his potential.”

While not the debut he wanted, Tidwell was happy to get a shot with the Mets. 

“It was awesome, indescribable, really,” he said. “It was everything I hoped for and more.”

Tidwell was optioned back to Triple-A Syracuse, where he has spent parts of the last two seasons. At Syracuse, he had 37 strikeouts over 27 innings in his six starts this season, and in his last two Syracuse starts, he had struck out 18 hitters over 9 innings.

The right-hander also impressed in spring training, throwing an immaculate inning on March 1 against the Tampa Bay Rays, striking out three batters on nine pitches.

Tidwell was the Mets’ second-round draft pick in 2022 and is currently ranked the No. 15 prospect and No. 5 pitcher in the team’s farm system.