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Former Blue Jay Rowdy Tellez ‘caught off guard’ by late-season release from Pirates
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Photo credit: © Philip G. Pavely - USA Today
Ryley Delaney
Oct 21, 2024, 08:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 21, 2024, 09:23 EDT
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On September 24, the Pittsburgh Pirates released first baseman Rowdy Tellez with six days remaining in the season. What’s more is that he was just four plate appearances, basically one game, away from getting a $250,000 bonus.
Tellez made an appearance on Foul Territory on Saturday, noting that he was caught off guard by the release, but understands how baseball is a business and these decisions are made sometimes. While Tellez admitted they didn’t do anything wrong on paper, the decision was not well received by fans and Tellez’s teammates.
In a different clip of the same interview, Tellez noted that after his poor play to begin the season, he was lucky he lasted as long as he did
Overall, his first season in Pittsburgh wasn’t great. Tellez finished the season slashing .243/.299/.392 with 13 home runs in 421 plate appearances, down from the 35 he hit in 2022. The 29-year-old finished with a 90 wRC+ and a -0.5 fWAR.
From the beginning of the season until May 31, Tellez slashed .177/.239/.223 with one home run in 142 plate appearances for a 30 wRC+. But as he noted in the second clip, his play in June, July, and August improved considerably. From June 1 until his release, Tellez slashed .277/.330/.478 with 12 home runs in 279 plate appearances for a 120 wRC+.
Tellez was selected in the 30th round of the 2013 draft by the Blue Jays, making his big league debut in 2018, where he hit four home runs and 9 doubles in 73 plate appearances. In 2019, he slashed .227/.293/.449 with 21 home runs in 409 plate appearances, along with a 91 wRC+.
His best season as a Blue Jay came in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, where he slashed .283/.346/.540 with eight home runs in 127 plate appearances for a 132 wRC+. After a tough start to the 2021 season, Tellez was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Trevor Richards and Bowden Francis.
Tellez had a career year in 2022, slashing .219/.306/.461 with a career-best 35 home runs in 599 plate appearances for a 110 wRC+ and a 1.1 fWAR. Moreover, he had a respectable 20.2 K% with a career-best 10.4 BB%.
Hopefully, Tellez can find a team in 2025 as he has some significant pop from the left side of the plate.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

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