Right-handed pitcher Julio Teheran is set to sign with the Toros De Tijuana of the Mexican League reports the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. It’s the second contract of the 2022 season for the former Brave, who signed a contract with the Atlantic League’s Staten Island FerryHawks back in April.
Long one of baseball’s most consistent starters in Atlanta, Teheran last appeared in the majors in April 2021 with the Tigers. A shoulder injury limited his stint in Detroit to just one start, and no doubt influenced his lack of 2022 opportunities with major league clubs.
Based on his strong play in the Atlantic League this year, however, Teheran may yet find a summer suitor with a big league club if he continues to excel in the Mexican League.Through six starts and 33-plus innings with the FerryHawks, the two-time All-Star is sporting a 1.60 ERA with 35 strikeouts and only six walks.
While the quality of independent league hitters is not to be confused with major league caliber bats, it’s nonetheless noteworthy that Teheran’s strikeout-walk ratio is as good as it’s ever been, topping even the minor league numbers that made him a consensus top prospect a decade ago. A return to health is an equally important development, as even the post-peak, innings-eater version of Teheran was coveted enough to net him a $3MM contract last year.