Julio Teherán
A two-time All-Star pitcher from Colombia who, as a teenage prodigy, anchored the Atlanta Braves' rotation during their formative years of rebuilding.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Colombian baseball player·Birthday: January 27·Millennials
Biography
Julio Teherán arrived in the United States carrying the hopes of a baseball-loving nation and the weight of a hefty signing bonus from the Atlanta Braves. The Colombian right-hander was just 16, a slender kid with a whip-like arm and a devastating changeup that belied his age. He rocketed through the minor leagues, not as a raw thrower, but as a polished pitcher with preternatural control. His MLB debut in 2011 was a preview of steadiness to come. During the Braves' transitional period in the 2010s, Teherán was the constant—the Opening Day starter, the innings-eater, the calm presence on the mound. His peak seasons in 2014 and 2016 earned him All-Star nods, characterized not by overpowering strikeout totals but by artful pitching, painting the corners of the plate with a fastball that seemed to have a mind of its own. While his later career saw him journey across several clubs, his legacy in Atlanta is secure: he was the bridge between eras, a homegrown talent who provided stability and star moments for a franchise finding its new identity.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Julio was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Julio Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Julio's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected as an MLB All-Star in both 2014 and 2016 while with the Atlanta Braves.
- Started Opening Day for the Atlanta Braves for four consecutive seasons from 2014 to 2017.
- Finished fifth in the National League with a 2.89 ERA in 2014, establishing himself as one of the league's top pitchers.
- Signed with the Braves at age 16 for a $850,000 bonus, becoming one of the top international prospects of 2007.
Did You Know?
He was born in Cartagena, Colombia, a coastal city not traditionally known as a baseball hotbed.
Teherán made his professional debut in the minor leagues at just 17 years old.
In his first MLB start in 2011, he pitched five scoreless innings against the Philadelphia Phillies.
He is known for an unorthodox, high-leg kick in his pitching delivery.
“I came from Colombia with a fastball and a changeup, nothing else.”
