The San Fransisco Giants called pitcher Blade Tidwell up from AAA to their big league squad Thursday and the former Tennessee star promptly recorded his first career save that night as the Giants defeated the New York Mets 7-2.
It was an unconventional way to earn a save. The most traditional way to earn a save is to pitch the ninth inning with your team leading by three or less runs. The next most traditional way is to enter the game the potential tying run on-base, at-bat or on-deck and then record the final out of the game.
Tidwell went the third way, recording the final nine outs of the game in the Giants’ win. San Fransisco already led 7-2 when the former Tennessee pitcher entered to open the seventh inning. The right-handed pitcher posted three scoreless innings, allowing two walks while striking out a pair of batters.
Blade Tidwell’s outing vs the Mets pic.twitter.com/3b0xqdgf0q
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) April 3, 2026
It was a fitting opponent for Tidwell to record his first career save against. Tidwell made his MLB debut with the Mets last season but New York dealt him and Drew Gilbert to San Fransisco at the trade deadline.
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Tidwell made four appearances and two starts with the Mets last season, posting a 9.00 ERA in 15 innings pitched.
After starting the 2026 season in AAA Sacramento, Tidwell’s first appearance with San Fransisco was a strong one. The right-handed pitcher has a new level of familiarity with the Giants as his former head coach Tony Vitello, pitching coach Frank Anderson and strength coach Quentin Eberhardt are now in various roles in San Fransisco.
The 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher spent two years at Tennessee where he posted a 13-5 record and 3.53 ERA while striking out 141 batters in 137.2 innings pitched. As a true freshman, Tidwell was Tennessee’s Sunday starter, totaling 98.2 innings while helping propel the Vols to a College World Series appearance.
Injuries limited Tidwell in his sophomore year and led to him serving in different roles as he finished the year with 39 innings pitched.
The Mets selected Tidwell in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft, signing him with a $1.8 million bonus for him to forego his remaining college eligibility and begin his professional career.
