Julio Teherán — Co-Founder, 2× MLB All-Star

Co-Founder · 2× MLB All-Star · Atlanta Braves 2011–2019 · 1,260 Career Strikeouts

Julio Teherán

Julio Teherán in Atlanta Braves road uniform, pre-game warm-up, September 2018.
Julio Teherán, Atlanta Braves, September 30, 2018. Photo: Ian D'Andrea / Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.

"El Caballo de Olaya." Born in Cartagena, Colombia. Signed by Atlanta at 16. Debuted in the Majors at 20. Two-time NL All-Star. Six consecutive Opening Day starts for the Braves — tied with Warren Spahn in franchise history. The first pitcher to ever throw from the mound at Truist Park. Retired March 9, 2026 at the World Baseball Classic, representing his country one last time.

The Colombian Standard

Fewer than 25 Colombians have ever played Major League Baseball. Julio Teherán is among a handful who can be called the best of them. Colombian national team manager José Mosquera has called him "el Édgar Rentería del lado de pitcheo" — the Edgar Rentería of pitching. For a country whose baseball identity has been defined largely by position players, Julio became the pitching archetype. Read more about Colombian baseball heritage on a Kachi glove.

He was the second Colombian-born player ever named an MLB All-Star, after Rentería. The first Colombian ever to start a Major League Opening Day game. He did that six times in a row.

The Career

MLB career (2011–2024): 81–82, 3.85 ERA, 255 games (248 starts), 1,470⅔ innings, 1,260 strikeouts, 1.223 WHIP, 20.3 bWAR. Primarily with the Atlanta Braves 2011–2019, followed by stints with the Los Angeles Angels (2020), Detroit Tigers (2021), Milwaukee Brewers (2023), and New York Mets (2024).

Signed by the Braves as an international free agent out of Cartagena on July 3, 2007 for $850,000 — at age 16. Entered the 2011 and 2012 seasons as Baseball America's #5 overall prospect in all of baseball.

Signature games:

  • April 14, 2017 — Starting pitcher for the first game in SunTrust Park (now Truist Park) history. Braves 5, Padres 2.
  • June 5, 2013 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates — Carried a no-hit bid through 7⅔ innings, broken up by pinch-hitter Brandon Inge.
  • May 3, 2018 vs. New York Mets — A second no-hit bid, broken up in the 7th.
  • May 24, 2016 — Career-high 12 strikeouts, including four batters struck out in a single inning.
  • 2018 season — Led MLB in opposing BABIP at .217. The hardest pitcher in baseball to barrel up.
Julio Teherán throwing a bullpen side session at Atlanta Braves spring training, February 2016.
Bullpen side session, Braves spring training, February 26, 2016. Photo: Arturo Pardavila III / Flickr, CC BY 2.0.

Career stats verified via Baseball-Reference.

All-Star Selections

2014 NL All-Star — Player-vote selection during a 221-inning, 2.89 ERA, 186-strikeout season. Second Colombian All-Star in history.

2016 NL All-Star — Named the Braves' lone representative. At selection, his record (3–7) belied a 2.72 ERA built on dominance without run support.

Team Colombia

Four appearances representing Colombia on the international stage:

  • 2017 World Baseball Classic — Pitched 5 innings of one-run ball vs. Canada, delivering Colombia's first-ever WBC victory.
  • 2023 World Baseball Classic — Named to the roster.
  • March 2025 WBC Qualifier (Tucson) — Against Brazil, threw 6 scoreless innings with a no-hitter through 5 and only one hit allowed (a 6th-inning bunt single). Named one of MLB.com's 10 standouts of the qualifier. Colombia qualified undefeated.
  • 2026 World Baseball Classic — Scratched from his scheduled start against Canada with a shoulder impingement. Announced retirement minutes after Colombia's 4–3 win over Panama.
Julio Teherán pitching in Game 4 of the 2013 NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Teherán pitching in the 2013 NLDS vs. the Dodgers. Photo: Derral Chen / Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.

In His Own Voice

"Representar a Colombia en el mejor béisbol del mundo para mí fue un honor."

"Representing Colombia in the best baseball in the world was, for me, an honor."

— Julio Teherán, retirement statement, March 9, 2026

"Ha sido una decisión que he estado pensando mucho, muchos años pensándolo. No lo voy a negar, es una decisión muy difícil, pero sé que las señales que Dios mandó son las indicadas y soy full creyente en eso."

Family in the Game

Julio's uncle Miguel Teherán worked as a scout for the Atlanta Braves — the organization that would sign Julio at 16. His second cousin, former MLB pitcher Sugar Ray Marimón, grew up with him in Cartagena and was briefly his teammate on the 2015 Braves staff.

The Miami Connection

In the 2021 offseason, Julio came to Miami to train with Carlos Castillo at the Kachi Baseball academy. Carlos advised a lower arm angle, a new changeup grip, and the addition of a cutter. The relationship continued through every subsequent offseason, every training cycle, every WBC appearance — including the 2025 qualifier that Julio dominated against Brazil.

When Julio retired, the two founders made it formal.

At Kachi Gloves

Julio brings a pro pitcher's decision-making to every product specification — from the closed-web design of the custom pitcher's glove, to the weight-distribution choices in the training glove line. If Carlos represents the academy-builder half of Kachi's identity, Julio represents the elite-performance half. Both perspectives show up in every glove.

Contact

julio@kachigloves.com


Built by pros. For every position.

Configure your Kachi by position. Free heritage-flag embroidery. Lifetime craftsmanship guarantee.

Pitcher Catcher Infield Outfield First Base