Brewers' brief pitching success story retires from baseball after WBC scratch

In recent years, much has been made of the Milwaukee Brewers' ability to get the most out of pitchers whose careers have stalled elsewhere. Guided by the brilliant pitching minds of Chris Hook and Jim Henderson, the Brewers embrace pitcher's strengths, add effective complementary pitches when needed, and instill a sense of confidence and grace that players need to rediscover their true potential.

The strategy has produced some rather significant wins in the recent past. Trevor Megill, whom the Brewers acquired after he was designated for assignment by the Minnesota Twins, was an All-Star in 2025 and has become a key part of the Milwaukee's bullpen. Just last year, after a shaky start to his professional career, starting pitcher Quinn Priester reached new heights following an early season trade that brought the former first-round pick to Milwaukee.

While the impressive wins rightfully gain the most notoriety, the compilation of smaller pitching success stories in Milwaukee has been a necessary component of the ongoing Golden Age of Brewers baseball. The Brewers have coaxed impressive seasons out of overlooked trade acquisitions like Joel Payamps and Bryan Hudson, before their effectiveness waned and Milwaukee moved on. They've turned to veteran stopgaps like Erick Fedde and Dallas Keuchel in recent years, who no one was expecting to have the success that they had in a Brewers uniform.

Milwaukee's front office has a keen ability to acquire a player, get the most out of them for a stretch of games, and then move on at the right time. One of the most impressive examples of this phenomenon came back in 2023, when the Brewers signed veteran free agent Julio Teherán in late May and rekindled his previous effectiveness...for about one month.

Julio Teherán's brief, but highly successful run in Milwaukee won't soon be forgotten by Brewers fans

In late May of 2023, the Brewers pitching staff was in rough shape. Brandon Woodruff, Aaron Ashby, Wade Miley, and Eric Lauer were all on the injured list, and the Brewers needed innings wherever they could get them. As a result, the Brewers signed the long-time Atlanta Brave, Teherán, and immediately slotted him into their rotation.

In his first six starts in a Brewers uniform, Teherán averaged nearly six innings per outing and posted an incredible 1.53 ERA. He was a key piece of the Brewers' rotation, but unfortunately, in late June, the veteran right-hander hit a wall. He surrendered 27 earned runs in his next five starts, including nine home runs. Teherán lost his rotation spot, and after three appearances in the Brewers' bullpen, he was designated for assignment.

However, for that stretch of games in late May and early June, Teherán was untouchable, resembling the pitcher that earned two All-Star Game nods in his first four full seasons in MLB. He was exactly what Milwaukee needed at the time and played an integral role in the Brewers' 2023 NL Central division title.

Teherán made one start for the New York Mets in 2024 and hasn't pitched in MLB since. However, when the World Baseball Classic rosters were announced last month, on Team Colombia's roster was the 35-year-old Teherán, ready to represent his home country after a year away from affiliated ball.

Unfortunately, Teherán didn't get the WBC swan song he was hoping for; the veteran right-hander was scratched from his scheduled start against Team Canada with shoulder discomfort. Just a few days later, Teherán officially announced his retirement from baseball.

While Braves fans will certainly enjoy looking back on the highly successful career that Teherán enjoyed in Atlanta, Brewers fans can join in on the celebration after his unlikely hot streak in Milwaukee.