Julio Teheran was named to the Atlanta Braves' starting rotation after completely shutting down the competition in 2013 Spring Training. As reported by Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, Teheran was so lights out that he impressed the team and will now become the fifth starter in the team's rotation.
Just look at those numbers and let it sink in. Teheran was the only one of the three young pitchers the Braves decided to keep in their system and he's making them look like geniuses.
Over the offseason, the Arizona Diamondbacks wanted a young pitcher in the deal that sent outfielder Justin Upton to Atlanta. However, instead of sending Teheran, the Braves wisely threw in Randall Delgado. Prior to that deal, Atlanta had sent Arodys Vizcaino to the Chicago Cubs for lefty Paul Maholm.
Though many were probably worried, Teheran provides comfort and trust to fans all around Atlanta. Teheran struggled in 2012 and then went back to work on a couple of things over the winter. While having some words with pitching legend and former MLB sensation, Pedro Martinez, Teheran turned his winter around and took these improvements into the spring.
The line Heyman tweeted is miniscule. Check the rest of them out.
He has a 1.29 ERA in 14 innings pitched. That's just two earned runs in four starts. He's giving up just one home run and his WHIP (Walks/Hits per Innings Pitched) is just 0.57. That means he's allowing one baserunner every two innings.
As far as the Braves pitching staff is concerned, Teheran ranked 1st in ERA, batting average, WHIP, strikeouts, ER, and was T-1st in IP and games started.
He was an absolute machine and at 22 years of age, this right-hander's future is absolutely brilliant. Of course, this is just Spring Training, but as the Braves get ready to embark on their 2013 season, at least they begin the year with the piece of mind that they have a fifth starter to fill in the back of the rotation. A very capable fifth starter at that.
Atlanta has what looks to be a very solid starting rotation. The question is whether to start Tim Hudson or Kris Medlen and either of those guys can be the staff's ace this season.
The Braves have plenty of offense, now, they will need the pitching rotation to hold games for them and get them deeper into the playoffs.
