When the Giants decided to deal Tyler Rogers to the Mets at the 2025 Trade Deadline, they received a three-player return that included two young prospects who were once teammates at the University of Tennessee: outfielder Drew Gilbert and right-hander Blade Tidwell.
Gilbert broke into the Majors a little over a week later and quickly became a fan favorite in San Francisco due to his maniacal energy in the dugout. The Giants are still waiting to get their first look at Tidwell, but they’re hoping their No. 13 prospect will be able to provide a similar boost to their roster in 2026.
A second-round Draft pick of the Mets in 2022, Tidwell recorded a 1.50 ERA with 24 strikeouts over 18 innings in four appearances (three starts) for Triple-A Sacramento after joining the Giants' organization in late July. That dominant stretch put him on the verge of a big league callup in August, but he ended up going down with a right shoulder injury that ultimately prevented him from debuting with the Giants in 2025.
Tidwell spent close to a month on the injured list, but he managed to get back on the mound before the end of the Triple-A season and is expected to be ready to compete for a rotation spot next spring.
Given the Giants’ need for more pitching depth, Tidwell should have plenty of opportunities to emerge as a big league contributor next year, especially since he already has a pre-existing relationship with new manager Tony Vitello, who coached both him and Gilbert in Knoxville, Tenn.
Tidwell struggled to a 9.00 ERA in four appearances for the Mets before being traded this year, but Vitello believes the 24-year-old is just as talented as some of the other top arms who came through his program at Tennessee, which also produced current big leaguers like Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet, Angels flamethrower Ben Joyce and Rockies right-hander Chase Dollander.
“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 earlier this month. “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.
“I think a whole different personality comes out when he is between the lines. 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. 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.”
The Giants are expected to add multiple starting pitchers this offseason to shore up a rotation that ran out of steam this year, but that shouldn’t close off paths to the Major League roster for young hurlers like Tidwell, Hayden Birdsong, Carson Whisenhunt or Trevor McDonald in 2026. San Francisco used 15 starting pitchers in 2025, underscoring the importance of having quality options that can step in and fill holes that inevitably arise during the regular season.
“I don’t think just because we add multiple starters means the opportunity is going to be gone from that group,” general manager Zack Minasian said. “I would want that group to know it’s important for them to come to Spring Training ready to go and continue to show they can pitch at the Major League level because there is going to be an opportunity. You all saw it during the course of the season. There was opportunity for starters.”