Julio Teheran began 2017 in his customary role of drum major, leading the Braves into another season. For the fifth straight time, he was handed the trust of being the opening day pitcher. That role was becoming as permanent as a tattoo.
He ended it banished to the bullpen, appearing only to mop up the spill of a lost playoff at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the youth movement seizing the Braves’ pitching staff, he was yesterday’s news. He finished the season 9-9, with a 3.94 ERA and a career low in innings pitched (175-2/3).
Any damaged feelings harbored by the Braves highest-paid pitcher have been kept well under wraps entering 2019.
“I was happy with the way I was feeling last year, and that’s the way I wanted to come back,” he said Monday.
And it was an obviously happy Teheran in the clubhouse after his first main-field appearance of spring against Houston, working three innings.
He showed traces of increased velocity on his fastball, a high of 94 mph flashing on the outfield scoreboard.
And a surprisingly keen slider this soon – among his four strikeouts were a couple courtesy of a slider that froze the hitters. “The first game, I wasn’t expecting it to be this good, but it was working good today,” he said.
As for the two-run home run Teheran gave up in the first, he put that on some spring training experimentation with his fastball. Nothing he’d try in a significant moment, he said.
His line for the day: three innings; three hits; the two runs; no walks.
“The ball was coming out of his hand really good. I really like the way he threw today,” manager Brian Snitker said.
Perhaps it was the product of intensified offseason workouts and the addition of a few more pounds of muscle.
“Getting stronger, that’s the way I feel today,” Teheran said. “I was feeling really strong, had really strong mechanics. I’ve been working really hard to be in this form.”
Or maybe it was the familiar sight of Brian McCann behind the plate, the catcher when he broke in with the Braves who has returned for a late-career encore.
“It reminded me of old times,” Teheran said. “When I came up he was one of the catchers who give me all the confidence. To get to play with him again, I’m excited to see how the season is going to be.”
With the way last season unfolded, there was scarce guarantee that Teheran would even make it back for another spring with the Braves. His standing with the team seemed that uncertain.
But here he is, still not expected to make a sixth straight opening day start (the only other Brave to do that was some guy named Warren Spahn). But who knows?
“Every spring training, every time I come back here I try to make the team, that’s my mindset,” he said. “This year is the same mentality. I know we got a bunch of guys with talent. I’m here to fight for my spot. I’m just happy. Happy that I feel good, feel healthy. We’ll see. Just trying to get ready for the season.
“Even if I don’t get to start opening day I know somebody’s going to do it. That’s why we’re here to build a rotation to help the team.”
