Giants Prospect Tidwell Impresses Teammate Weathers

The two small-town Tennessee natives are excited to see each other succeed in the majors.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 2:48pm by Ben Kaplan

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Giants pitching prospect Blade Tidwell and Yankees left-hander Ryan Weathers grew up playing baseball together in their small hometown of Loretto, Tennessee. Though they didn't get to face off in the Giants' recent series against the Yankees, Weathers is confident Tidwell will make an impact for San Francisco this season.

Why it matters

The story highlights the close relationship between the two players from a tiny town and how their shared background has helped shape their paths to the major leagues. It also showcases the Giants' development of homegrown talent like Tidwell.

The details

Weathers, 26, and Tidwell, 24, were high school teammates at Loretto High School, where they won a state championship in 2017. The two have remained close, training together in the offseason and learning from Weathers' father, former MLB pitcher David Weathers. Tidwell was drafted by the Mets in 2022 and later traded to the Giants, while Weathers made his MLB debut with the Padres in 2020.

  • Weathers and Tidwell were high school teammates in 2017, winning a state championship.
  • Weathers was drafted by the Padres in 2018 and made his MLB debut in 2020.
  • Tidwell was drafted by the Mets in 2022 and later traded to the Giants.

The players

Ryan Weathers

A 26-year-old left-handed pitcher for the New York Yankees, who grew up playing baseball with Blade Tidwell in their small hometown of Loretto, Tennessee.

Blade Tidwell

A 24-year-old right-handed pitching prospect for the San Francisco Giants, who was Weathers' high school teammate and has remained close with him over the years.

David Weathers

The father of Ryan Weathers, who played in the major leagues for 19 seasons from 1991 to 2009 and has helped mentor both Weathers and Tidwell.

Tony Vitello

The current manager of the San Francisco Giants, who previously coached Tidwell at the University of Tennessee.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It would have been really cool [to see him]. But I know he's going to make an impact for the Giants this year in some capacity. He's got a really good arm, and I'm excited for him.”

— Ryan Weathers, Yankees Pitcher

“We throw bullpens together in the offseason. He bought a TrackMan two years ago. And his dad, David, played in the league for 19 seasons. He was my travel ball coach when I was 9. High school coach, middle school coach. I have a pretty good relationship with them.”

— Blade Tidwell, Giants Pitching Prospect

“I really think the Weathers family deserves a Christmas gift from him. The fact that he was able to train with them meant a small-town Tennessee kid -- we always tease him that he's goofy. Don't tell him, but he's actually very intelligent. But if you were to stereotype or jump to conclusions, you'd think, 'This guy is going to be raw.' Well, he was a pro on how he went about his business as a freshman.”

— Tony Vitello, Giants Manager

What’s next

Tidwell will continue to develop at the Triple-A level with the Giants, with the goal of earning a call-up to the major league roster later this season.

The takeaway

The story of Weathers and Tidwell's close friendship and shared small-town roots highlights the unique paths players can take to the major leagues, and how mentorship and community can play a key role in a player's development.