2013 Early Projections: Position #1 PART 2
By Jeff Schafer
Star potential, ace material, top prospect…all these attributes describe the next key component to the Atlanta Braves 2013 starting pitching rotation. He’s been a Baseball America top 5 prospect since 2011 and Atlanta’s top prospect. He’s shown brilliance on the mound but has also showed a side Braves fans didn’t want to see.
March 19, 2012; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
Julio Teheran(27) throws against the St. Louis Cardinals during the top of the sixth inning of a spring training game at Disney Wide World of Sports complex. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Julio Teheran is my next probable starter to be slated into the 4th spot in the rotation. Scouts have been saying that Teheran has top of the order stuff and this year will be the time to display those characteristics. I see him excelling in spring training and jumping over Paul Maholm in the starting rotation.
This youngster (22 years old) has been dangling over fans like a piñata since he was 18 years old. During his 19 year old season he jumped from A ball to high A to AA in one season striking out 159 batters in 142 innings. Then the following year, 2011, he recorded another excel season having 15 wins and only 3 loses in AAA ball while having even better numbers. After those back-to-back seasons, he catapulted into Atlanta fans living rooms everywhere.
But then 2012 came, Teheran showed up to Spring Training with a shot at making the big league rotation. Many believed this was possible but he didn’t exactly show enough in Florida and was sent back to AAA ball. The Braves coaching staff tried to alter his pitching delivery in 2012 and it showed it wasn’t working. Teheran didn’t have the season most were expecting but with modifications to his delivery that he wasn’t used to and being almost bored in AAA, looking back I see why his numbers weren’t there.
All the pieces have fell out so Teheran would be the front-runner for a spot in the rotation. During Winter play, the Braves coaching staff had told Julio to go back to his old delivery and now, supposedly, the velocity is back. This Spring Training is Teheran’s time shine, with his mechanics back to where they were when he was “Ace potential” and his confidence back from Winter ball, I’m expecting a huge season for Julio Teheran.
Julio Teheran
| Year | Age | IP | GS | W | L | ERA | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | HR/9 |
| 2011 | 20 | 19.2(144.2) | 3 (24) | 1 (15) | 1 (3) | 5.03 (2.55) | 1.475 (1.182) | 4.6 (7.6) | 3.7 (3.0) | 1.8 (.3) |
| 2012 | 21 | 6.1 (131) | 1 (26) | 0 (7) | 0 (9) | 5.68 (5.08) | .947 (1.443) | 7.1 (6.7) | 1.4 (3.0) | 0.0 (1.2) |
| 2013 | 22 | 148 | 24 | 9 | 7 | 3.98 | 1.383 | 6.6 | 2.2 | 1.1 |
**In parenthesis is his minor league stats.**
View my projected 5th starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves https://tomahawktake.com/2013/01/29/2013-early-projections-position-1-part-1/