Is Emiliano Teodo a bullpen option for the Texas Rangers in 2024?

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The Texas Rangers farm system has been widely discussed for much of this offseason and now into spring training. People have been focusing on Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford and the potential impact those players might have for the Texas Rangers in 2024. They will both likely make a major impact on the team this season. Another prospect made his spring training debut on Saturday and caused a stir among fans and coaching staff alike. Emiliano Teodo a fireballing right-hander came in out of the pen on Saturday and allowed two inherited runners to score on an error, but also did finish out the inning with a strikeout and getting Salvador Perez to pop out. It was an eye-opening outing for the 23-year-old. Bruce Bochy had this to say after the game when asked about Teodo,

Bruce Bochy on RHP Emiliano Teodo, who touched 100 MPH a few times today and was consistently upper 90’s: “Electric stuff … liked the poise that the kid showed, he’s got great stuff.”

The 23-year-old is Texas’ No. 15 prospect, per Baseball America.
— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) February 24, 2024

It begs the question could we see Teodo coming out of the pen for the Texas Rangers this summer?

The pros of promoting Teodo to the majors

Teodo has a very explosive arm that in short bursts could be very dominant in the pen. He hit 100mph with a 2-seam fastball according to the Surprise stadium gun. He also mixes in a mid 80's curveball. He will likely open the season at Frisco and Texas has shown they are not afraid of promoting relievers or position players from Frisco or advancing them quickly to Round Rock. If Teodo is getting promoted it must be assumed he is pitching well.

Texas would likely add Teodo around midseason and imagine adding that electric fastball and complimentary secondary pitches to the bullpen. Teodo would bring experience starting and pitching in relief. That would mean Bochy could use him in whatever role he needed at that moment. Texas can ease Teodo into the majors by pitching him in low stress situations. Then slowly get him confident and then put him into more high-pressure situations. Teodo would certainly add to the depth of the bullpen and take some of the load off veterans like Josh Sborz, Jose Leclerc, and David Robertson.

Teodo also comes without a full scouting report as well. He would hold the advantage over the hitters he is facing for at least the first few weeks until teams develop a scouting report on him. It would be similar to the success Grant Anderson had after being promoted in late May last season. Teodo could be that guy for Texas in the middle of the season.

Next: Why Texas should keep Teodo in the minors

The cons of promoting Teodo to the majors

The anti-argument starts with the fact he may not be ready. He is 23-years old, but 2024 is just his third full season to play in the minors. He still has not pitched above High-A at this point in his career. He did excel in the Arizona Fall League last year, but that was the highest level of competition he has faced. He could certainly use more seasoning in the upper minors. It might not be the worst idea for him to spend most of this season in Frisco and then maybe a late season promotion to Round Rock. He then can be an option in 2025.

The second reason is that likely brings to an end Texas trying to develop Teodo into a starting pitcher. Teodo in his first two full seasons has made 31 starts. That includes a few headline-inducing starts back in 2022. On August 4th he threw five hitless innings with 10 strikeouts and just one walk. He followed that up on August 25th with four hitless innings and 11 strikeouts with three walks. This was in his time at Low-A Down East. He did not have as many starts like that at High-A in 2023. He did have a start in August last season where he threw five innings, allowed two hits, struck out nine, and walked two. Does Texas really want to pull the plug on this experiment to make him a full-time reliever?

The final reason to not promote Teodo is because they have a lot of other relievers they need to find out about in 2024 before they reach down and get Teodo. That list includes Marc Church, Owen White, Jonathan Hernandez, Rule 5 draft pick Carson Coleman, Antoine Kelly, Yerry Rodriguez, Grant Anderson, and Zak Kent. It would feel like they are giving Teodo a shot before finding out about all of these other pitchers. Hopefully, by the end of 2024 we will have an idea whether that list above can be major league relievers. Then in 2025 Texas can add Teodo to the group and give him an opportunity.

Next: What the plan should be for Teodo in 2024

What Texas should do with Teodo

Texas should put Teodo in the rotation at Frisco and give him 20 or more starts in 2024. If he can be a starting pitcher with that type of velocity he would be far more valuable than he would be as a reliever. There should be no rush into making him a reliever. If results dictate that starting is not in his future then they can do that later in the season. Let Teodo sink or swim as a starter in 2024. This course of action is what is best for the Texas Rangers and for Teodo.

Enjoy listening to and maybe watching the few games that are on television this spring training. I hope Teodo follows up his dominant Arizona Fall League in 2023 with a dominant spring training in Arizona. That would mean Texas might have another pitcher to add to their arsenal of arms. Then he can come back to spring training in 2025 and potentially earn a job out of camp next season when there might be more openings in the bullpen.

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