Veteran is right Julio Tehran announced this afternoon that he is officially retiring from baseball (Spanish language video provided by Franchys Romero). The 35-year-old player was on the roster for his home team in Colombia during this year’s World Baseball Classic. Unfortunately, he had to be scratched from his start against Canada on Saturday after suffering a concussion during the warm-up.
Although Teherán has not made an impact at the MLB level in recent seasons, he has had a solid career. A two-time All-Star, he pitched parts of 13 years in the major leagues. Teherán spent most of his career with the Braves, who signed him for $850K as a rookie in 2008. He moved quickly among the kids and was one of the sport’s top prospects within a few years.
Atlanta called up Teherán to make his league debut in May 2011, less than four months after his 20th birthday. He played a handful of games that season and the following year. In 2013, the Braves felt ready for a full rotation opportunity.
Teherán made 30 starts and turned in a 3.20 earned run average in 185 2/3 innings. He finished fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting for a 96-win team that won the NL East. Teherán was hit hard in his one appearance during the Division Series, but he signed a six-year extension that winter and entered the following season as the ace of Atlanta’s staff.
He would hold that title for the next few seasons. Teherán made his first of six straight Opening Day starts for the Braves in 2014. Although the middle of 2010 was difficult for the team, that was not Teherán’s fault. He has established himself as a solid and reliable starter in the middle rotation.
Teherán went over 200 innings in back-to-back seasons during 2014-15. He threw a career-high 221 frames of 2.89 ERA ball during his second full MLB campaign, earning an All-Star selection in the process. Teherán was selected back in the Midsummer Classic two years later. He pitched 188 innings of 3.21 ERA ball that year.
The 6’2″ righty had only two stints on the injured list during his run in Atlanta. He made at least 30 starts per year from 2013-19. He totaled 175 innings in all but the last of those seasons (where he struck out just one over that mark). Teherán posted a combined 3.64 ERA with nearly 1,200 strikeouts while ranking ninth in the MLB in innings over those seven seasons. The Braves would return to the postseason during his final two years with the team, though he would come out of the bullpen in October.
Atlanta declined the club option after the 2019 season, sending Teherán to free agency for the first time. He received a $9MM contract from the Angels but was hit with 35 runs over 31 1/3 innings in the shortstop.
That pushed him into pedestrian territory, as he bounced around minor league deals and spent time in independent ball and the Mexican League. Teherán made brief appearances with the Tigers, Brewers and Mets between 2021-24. His last major league outing was for the Mets against his old team at Truist Park in April 2024. He spent last season in Mexico.
Teherán was unable to qualify for this year’s WBC, but did qualify for the 2017 tournament for his country. He pitched well for nearly two decades and retired with a sub-4.00 ERA in the major leagues despite his rocky results after leaving Atlanta.
He’s starting at a 3.85 mark in about 1500 innings. Teherán recorded 1260 hits and posted a near-.500 record (81-82). Baseball Reference pegged him at nearly 20 wins above replacement, including 4-5 WAR showings during both of his All-Star seasons. He made north of $45MM in career earnings. Congratulations Teherán on a great run and all the best in your retirement.
Photo courtesy of Jake Roth, USA Today Sports.
