Julio Teheran, Braves agree to extension

The Atlanta Braves and pitcher Julio Teheran have agreed to a six-year extension that will keep him under team control through the 2019 season, the team announced Friday. Teheran also receives an option for the 2020 season. 

The Atlanta Braves have been locking up young stars recently, also giving first baseman Freddie Freeman and outfielder Jason Heyward extensions as well.

The 23-year-old Colombian native went 14-8 with a 3.20 ERA and a 1.174 WHIP in 2013 with the Braves, his first full campaign of his career. The #4 overall prospect by MLB.com (pre-2012)  was able to toss 185 2/3 innings with the Braves in 2013, also racking up 170 strikeouts. Teheran's success led him to finishing fifth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Teheran was coming off of a season in 2012 where many people doubted him as a top prospect. Teheran posted a 5.08 ERA in 131 innings pitched with the Braves Triple-A affiliate. His stock fell greatly, going from the #4 prospect to the #31 prospect (MLB.com). However, Teheran bounced back, and the Braves will hope that he can continue to progress into the future. 

Julio Teheran and this relatively inexperienced pitching staff will likely be a large part of the Braves success. Tim Hudson, the ex-Braves veteran, will no longer be able to help this staff. They will have to rely on Kris Medlen, Mike Minor, and Julio Teheran to get the job done. In 2013, the Braves rotation finished sixth in the MLB in ERA and third in innings pitched.

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