Detroit Tigers: Julio Teheran turning heads before 2021 season kicks off

The Detroit Tigers signed Julio Teheran this offseason to a one-year contract on more of a “prove-me” basis. Teheran has had a strong campaign through Spring Training and looks like he is going to be a more than capable starting pitcher.

The thirty-year-old veteran starting pitcher did not quite get the spring tune-up he was looking for in 2020, leading to some lackluster performance on his one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels. The 2020 season being postponed did not help Teheran who felt like he could not get the tune-up he was looking for.

Teheran is a ten-year veteran of the big leagues who is looking to land a spot in the Detroit Tigers rotation. Based on his spring performance, Teheran should be slated for a definitive spot in the rotation.

While there are a few question marks about who will round out the Tigers pitching staff, Teheran should not be labeled as one of them. He has been an effective pitcher for the Tigers and could very well be one of the pitchers who holds down the back end of the rotation to start off the 2021 season.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Julio Teheran is turning heads as the 2021 season inches closer.

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So far in Lakeland, Teheran has pitched nine total innings, with three separate appearances.

Teheran’s last outing included four shutout innings where he struck out seven total opposing hitters in the process.

In total, Teheran has logged nine innings allowing just five hits, along with two runs. He has accumulated a 2.00 ERA and a 0.67 WHIP with just one walk and 12 strikeouts.

He looks as if he is going to settle in nicely with the Tigers rotation as the 2021 season kicks off.

Teheran was brought into Lakeland as a non-roster invitee but is looking like he is going to become a mainstay in the rotation.

According to FanGraphs predictions, Teheran is slated to be the fifth starter.

Based on his numbers early in the spring, Teheran is more than deserving of a starting role with the Tigers, the question is if he can stick in the rotation. While his 2020 season, Teheran was not able to get to a level he would have hoped, but the Tigers are going to give him a chance to turn things around.

Last season, Teheran pitched in ten games, making nine starts where he totaled 31.1 innings pitched. He had a 10.05 ERA and 1.75 WHIP for the Angels where he had twenty strikeouts while surrendering 39 hits and walking 16 opposing hitters.

When Spring Training is all said and done, the Tigers should be looking to give Julio Teheran a shot to strut his stuff in the big-league rotation.