School: University of Tennessee; Class: Sophomore
Position: RHP; B/T: R/R
Height: 6-4; Weight: 207
Previously Drafted: N/A
High School: Loretto High School
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 50 | 55 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Background: Tidwell famously teamed with Ryan Weathers, the seventh overall pick in the 2018 draft, to give the Loretto Mustangs a lethal one-two punch atop their vaunted rotation for a couple of seasons. And while the hard-throwing right-hander has watched his former teammate earn an extended look with the Padres, Tidwell has continued to make a case a potential first round pick in 2022.
A star on both sides of the ball during his prep career, Tidwell earned a bevy of awards and recognition throughout his teenage years, including: 2019 Tennessee Class A Mr. baseball, 2020 Most Valuable Pitcher at the Perfect Game 18U Battle of the Southeast, and 2020 Perfect Game Preseason All-America and All-Southeast Region Selection. The Perfect Game named the big hurler as the 22nd best right-hander in the nation, and the third overall player in the state. COVID, though, prematurely ended his senior campaign after just one game.
After going undrafted, Tidwell packed his bags and headed to SEC powerhouse Tennessee – which is hardly Plan B.
The 6-foot-4, 207-pound hurler made 18 starts for the Volunteers in 2021, throwing 98.2 innings with 90 strikeouts and 34 walks to go along with a 3.74 ERA. The big righty made a trio of brief appearances for the Stars squad on Team USA, tossing an additional seven innings with nine strikeouts and four walks.
This season began on a bit of a sour note for Tidwell: he missed the opening month-and-a-half dealing with right shoulder soreness and then made a couple of short relief outings once he did make it back to action for the nation’s top team. Tidwell would eventually make four relief appearances and nine starts for the Volunteers, posting a dominating 51-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 39.0 innings of work. He finished his sophomore season with a 3.00 ERA.
Scouting Report: Despite being a draft-eligible sophomore, Tidwell’s already 21-years-old – the typical age of a junior. The right-hander’s arsenal is highlighted by a mid- to upper-90s with plenty of explosive, late life. He’ll complement the plus offering with a trio of offspeed pitches: an average upper-70s curveball, a 55-grade mid-80s slider, and an upper-80s changeup. Tidwell’s command took a step forward during the 2022 season, particularly late in the year. There’s some mid-rotation caliber upside with the floor of a dominant backend reliever. The early season shoulder woes, though, are concerning and would likely push him down into a second round grade if I were interested in drafting him.
Ceiling: 2.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
Grade: Second Round
