Teodo becomes 1st pitcher in Futures Game to toss 2 perfect frames
Kennedi Landry
@kennlandryARLINGTON -- Emiliano Teodo hopes to pitch at Globe Life Field one day as a member of the Texas Rangers. He still might be a year or two away from doing that for the big league club, but on Saturday, he was able to start at Globe Life Field for the American League at the 2024 All-Star Futures Game.
Teodo, the Rangers' No. 14 prospect, got a call from AL manager and Texas legend Adrian Beltr¨¦ on Friday telling him he would be starting the game. Teodo did so in style, even as Michael Young¡¯s National League squad edged out the AL, 6-1.
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In his start, Teodo became the first pitcher in Futures Game history to toss two perfect frames as he flashed his electric two-seam fastball and a dynamic breaking ball.
¡°First of all, it was my focus to come in and get outs,¡± Teodo said through an interpreter. ¡°I¡¯m super proud of myself for my work in the bullpen and having my mentality ready to go. I was happy to open the game in my home. I told Beltr¨¦ I was going to give my best ability and the best I¡¯ve got today. I came to get outs and I got those outs that I needed to get.¡±
Beltr¨¦ himself has played with a number of legends across his big league career, but he couldn¡¯t help but be impressed by Teodo as he made his managerial debut.
¡°I saw great things. He¡¯s got a great future,¡± Beltr¨¦ said. ¡°I loved the way he handled himself. He showed why the Rangers have put a high ceiling on him. We have a saying in the Dominican: ¡®Money doesn¡¯t make the player.¡¯ He¡¯s a great example. He¡¯s hungry and I told him to stay hungry. I love seeing kids like that. They put themselves in a great position.¡±
Teodo was signed for just $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic in the Rangers¡¯ 2019-20 international signing class, and will hopefully be a success story for Texas¡¯ pitching development, which has struggled to produce big league starters consistently over the years.
The 23-year-old right-hander has flashed brilliance throughout his professional career, but never quite as electric as this current stretch with Double-A Frisco. So far this season, he¡¯s posted a 1.71 ERA through 14 starts (68 1/3 innings). Over that time, he¡¯s struck out 89 while walking 34 batters.
He could be in Triple-A before the end of the year and in the big leagues by 2025.
It¡¯s a long way from that $10,000 bonus all those years ago.
¡°That doesn't go into my mentality,¡± Teodo said. ¡°The bonus doesn't make a baseball player. We're all equal and we're ready to go. Batters, pitchers, we¡¯re all the same. I just came here to do my job. If I would¡¯ve signed for more money, I probably would be a different person.¡±
More than anything, Teodo was happy to be on this stage, compete with some of the best prospects in the country and be mentored by Rangers¡¯ legends alongside Beltr¨¦.
¡°I¡¯m just super, super happy to be here,¡± Teodo said. ¡°I can't even express how happy I am. One day I hope to be here again [with the Rangers]. When I went out to the dirt, I was just super emotional and a little bit nervous, but I was able to hold it together and be at my best in the moment that I was on that mound.¡±