Atlanta Braves Opening Day countdown: 49, JT
Bridging from the last competitive run of the Atlanta Braves through the rebuild is one of the top pitching prospects the team has seen.
With a rebuild built on pitching, Atlanta Braves fans have seen Braves pitching prospects ranked highly. However, one of the highest-ranked pitching prospects in Atlanta Braves history is the guy who has been the consummate veteran throughout the rebuild, #49 Julio Teheran.
Originally signed from Colombia in 2007 for $850,000, Julio Alberto Teheran was known to have excellent stuff, and the Braves trusted him to go straight to advanced rookie Danville for his first assignment at just 17. He got hit hard over 6 starts and 15 innings, but he also showed a 4/17 BB/K ratio.
In 2009, Teheran made 14 starts between Danville and low-A Rome. He pitched 81 1/3 innings, with a 3.65 ERA and a 18/67 BB/K. His impressive raw stuff earned him plenty of raves and had him ranked as the #51 overall prospect by Baseball America and the #33 prospect by Baseball Prospectus.
He followed that up with a huge season at 19, jumping up 3 levels to AA by the end of the season. Teheran made 24 starts, throwing 142 2/3 innings, with a 2.59 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 40/159 BB/K ratio. This impressive performance led to Teheran being ranked the #5 prospect by BA and #5 by BP as well.
He maintained those rankings with BP and BA and was ranked #4 in MLB Pipeline’s initial rankings before the 2012 season after his 2011 was incredibly impressive at AA at just 20-years-old. Even though he struggled in 5 MLB appearances at the end of the year, it did not tarnish his ranking.
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Teheran was very disappointed after being told essentially that he had a rotation spot heading into spring training in 2012 and then seeing that spot handed to another pitcher. He struggled with his focus, it seemed, back at AAA, posting a 5.08 ERA. Even in that rough year, his youth (just 21 still) had him ranked 44th by BA, 31st by MLB Pipeline, and 52nd by BP.
Learning from the previous spring, Teheran dominated in spring training in 2013, posting a 1.04 ERA over 6 starts and 26 innings. It’s a trend that he’d continue each spring except one thus far in his career, performing at an elite level to ensure his rotation spot.
In 2013, Teheran made 30 starts in his first full season in the majors, posting 185 2/3 innings, a 3.20 ERA, and a 45/170 BB/K ratio. He’s made at least 30 starts each season since for the Braves, and in his full seasons for the Braves, he’s averaged 32 starts, 193 innings, a 3.61 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and a 61/168 BB/K ratio.
Braves opener countdown 50, Mercker. dark. Next
Since 2013, Julio’s performance for the Atlanta Braves ranks very well among all pitchers in the league:
- 4th in starts
- 11th in innings
- 16th in strikeouts
- 17th in shutouts
- 22nd in bWAR, wins
- 23rd in complete games