MLB: Julio Teheran Signs Minor League Deal With Baltimore Orioles, Gets MLB Camp Invite

Julio Teheran of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches in the first inning of their MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on May 31, 2023 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

Colombian right-handed pitcher Julio Teheran signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles, which includes an invite to Major League camp, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on February 27. 

According to Anthony Franco of MLBtraderumors.com, the deal comes with a $2 million base salary if the right-handed pitcher makes the Major League roster out of spring training. 

Teheran elected free agency on Oct. 6 prior to him signing with Baltimore. 

Teheran, 33, was born in Cartagena, Colombia, and has played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball, appearing with the Atlanta Braves from 2011-19, the Los Angeles Angels in 2020, the Detroit Tigers in 2021, and the Milwaukee Brewers in 2023. Teheran was an All-Star in 2014 and 2016. 

Last season, Teheran started out with the San Diego Padres organization with Triple-A El Paso and started eight games, posting a 4-2 record with a 5.63 ERA throwing 40 innings allowing 51 hits, 25 earned runs, seven home runs, 16 walks, 45 strikeouts, and a 1.675 WHIP before he was released on May 24. 

Milwaukee signed Teheran to a minor league contract on May 25, and Teheran started 11 games and made 14 appearances for the Brewers, throwing 71.2 innings with a 4.40 ERA and allowing 68 hits, 35 earned runs, 13 home runs, 13 walks while notching 50 strikeouts with a 1.130 WHIP. 

Teheran landed on the 15-day injured list with a right hip impingement on July 30. 

He was transferred to High-A Wisconsin on a rehab assignment on Aug. 25 and started one game, throwing three innings and allowing three hits, one earned run, one home run, and striking out four in a no-decision before he was sent to Triple-A Nashville on Aug. 31. 

Teheran started in three games with Triple-A Nashville, posting a 2-0 record with a 4.40 ERA, throwing 14.1 innings allowing 13 hits, seven earned runs, one home run, six walks, and recording 13 strikeouts before he elected free agency. 

During the 2022-23 winter league season, Teheran played in LIDOM with the Toros del Este and started in eight games with a 2-4 record, a 3.49 ERA in 38.2 innings, and allowed 34 hits, 15 earned runs, three walks, and struck out 25 with a 0.957 WHIP. 

In 2022, Teheran played with the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League, where he started in six games and posted a 1.60 ERA with a 1-1 record. Teheran threw 33.2 innings, allowing 25 hits, six earned runs, three home runs, six walks, 35 strikeouts, and a 0.921 WHIP before he was placed on the temporary inactive list on May 26, 2022. 

Teheran signed as a free agent to the Toros de Tijuana in hte Liga Mexicana de Beisbol on June 25, 2022 and started in six games posting a 4-1 record with a 4.88 ERA throwing 27.2 innings allowing 35 hits, 15 earned runs, five home runs, six walks, 29 strikeouts, and a 1.482 WHIP before he signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey on Aug. 2, 2022. He started in one game with the Sultanes de Monterrey and posted a 1.80 ERA, going 0-1 and throwing five innings, allowing four hits, one earned run, one walk, and six strikeouts. 

In 12 seasons in MLB, Teheran has a career record of 81-82 with a 3.83 ERA in 254 appearances and 247 starts, throwing five complete games and three shutouts. He has thrown 1,468 innings, allowing 1,300 hits, 625 earned runs, 202 home runs, 490 walks, and a 1.219 WHIP. 

According to Baseball Savant, Teheran’s ground ball percentage was 40.6% in 2023. His four-seam fastball topped at 89.2 mph and his sinker was at 90 mph. 

Teheran will be competing with Cole Irvin and Tyler Wells to find a spot in the starting rotation for the Orioles during spring training. 

The Orioles will play the Los Angeles Angels in their first game of the 2024 regular season at home on March 28 at 3:05 p.m. EDT.