May 24, 2025
Prospect Riley Tirotta is building off his time as a non-roster invitee to major league spring training this season with Triple-A Buffalo.
“I was shown what life is like up there,” Tirotta said of MLB camp. “That they have one goal only which is to win a World Series, which is the goal of every year. The camp was good, I went through some struggles, just at the plate in spring training. But I had the chance to talk to Don Mattingly and David Popkins, just to help me work through things. You know to age as a hitter, to grow in the game a little bit; and I’m still working through that every day. It’s a grind, but it was a pleasure working with those guys in major league camp on base running, defense, everything ball.”
Tirotta is currently slashing .284/.366/.532 with an OPS of .898 after 109 at-bats in 2025.
With a focus on production, Tirotta shares the advice he received from Blue Jays’ hitting coach David Popkins.
“Pop told me to be athletic in my swing,” stated Tirotta. “To know situations. Pop is situationally aware of good times of getting your A-swing off. To take a different club up to bat, that was something I really got from him. He said, ‘Know what club to take to bat, know the situation here, what’s your goal in this situation,’ that is something that guys do at the next level, that I’m still learning here in Triple-A. Not just to think fastball and doing damage to that. There’s more to it.”
With the ability to play anywhere in the infield, Tirotta has also started playing the corner outfield spots in pro ball to increase his versatility.
“It’s different, it’s an adjustment, but it’s ball,” Tirotta explained about playing in the outfield. “The ball goes up I’m going to do anything I can to catch it. Situationally again, knowing what to do before it comes to you is of the utmost importance to me.”
Playing mostly first base and third base so far in his career, Tirotta received some extra advice from Don Mattingly on how to make playing first base easier.
“Donny and I talked a lot about playing first base,” said Tirotta. “He pointed out little cues for me to focus on. The advice he gave me will help make the position easier for me to help my teammates out.”
Be sure to watch for Riley Tirotta, as he makes a push for a major league call-up in 2025.