Rowdy Tellez

Ryan John “Rowdy” Tellez Bio

Ryan John “Rowdy” Tellez is an American professional baseball first baseman who currently plays for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on March 16, 1995, Tellez has established himself as a power hitter throughout his MLB career, playing for six major league teams since his debut in 2018. He represented the Mexico national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and has earned recognition for his impressive exit velocities and clutch hitting performances. Tellez was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 30th round of the 2013 MLB Draft and signed for $850,000, which was the highest signing bonus ever paid to a post-10th-round pick at that time.

Early Life and Background

Rowdy Tellez was born and raised as the oldest child of Greg and Lori Tellez in Elk Grove, California. His nickname originated before his birth when his parents avoided calling the baby “Baby” or “It” during pregnancy. Since the fetus was so active in the womb, they nicknamed him “Baby Rowdy,” which eventually shortened to just “Rowdy.” His father has stated that everyone knows him simply as Rowdy today.

Tellez attended Elk Grove High School, where he played baseball alongside several future MLB players including J.D. Davis, Dom Nuñez, Derek Hill, Nick Madrigal, Dylan Carlson, and Jeremy Martinez. He was a highly decorated high school player, earning recognition as a 2013 Baseball America High School All-American, 2013 Rawlings First Team All-American, and 2013 Rawlings/Perfect Game All-Region First Team selection for California. He accepted a scholarship offer to play at the University of Southern California before signing with the Blue Jays.

Path to Professional Baseball

Entering the 2013 MLB Draft, Tellez was ranked as the 59th-best prospect available by Baseball America. Despite this ranking, he was passed over by every team many times during the draft due to his strong commitment to play at USC. The Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 30th round and ultimately signed him for an $850,000 signing bonus, a record for a post-10th-round pick following new draft signing rules. He began his professional career that same year with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Blue Jays.

Tellez quickly demonstrated his power-hitting potential in the minor leagues. Baseball America rated him as the best power hitter in the Blue Jays organization. In 2015, he was named Midwest League Player of the Week and earned midseason All-Star honors while leading the league in RBIs with 41 before being promoted to High-A Dunedin. He continued his ascent through the Blue Jays system, earning Eastern League midseason and full-season All-Star honors in 2016 with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, where he posted a .297 batting average with 23 home runs and 81 RBIs.

Ryan John Tellez Career

Toronto Blue Jays (2018-2021)

Tellez began the 2018 season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, hitting .270 with 13 home runs and 50 RBIs in 112 games. On September 4, 2018, he received his call-up to the majors following Buffalo’s season conclusion. The next day, Tellez made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays and immediately made history. In his first three games, he hit six doubles, becoming the first major league player since 1913 to accomplish this feat and the first American League rookie since Joe DiMaggio in 1936 to hit six doubles in a three-game span.

Tellez continued his historic start by becoming the only player since 1913 to hit seven doubles in his first seven major league games. He finished his debut month batting .314 with four home runs and 14 RBIs in just 23 games. He made the Blue Jays’ 2019 Opening Day roster and on April 11, hit a home run with a 115.2 mph exit velocity, the fastest home run by a Blue Jays player in the Statcast era at that time. Later that season, he became the fifth-youngest Blue Jay to hit a grand slam and the first in team history to hit 13 home runs in his first 65 major league games. For the 2019 season, he batted .227 with 21 home runs and 51 RBIs.

In the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Tellez showed significant improvement, reducing his strikeout rate by 12.7 percentage points from 2019, the greatest decrease among all major league hitters. He batted .283 with eight home runs and 23 RBIs in 127 plate appearances. On August 20, 2020, he hit a home run with an exit velocity of 117.4 mph, the highest for any Blue Jays home run in the Statcast era and the third-highest exit velocity in all of baseball that year.

Milwaukee Brewers (2021-2023)

On July 6, 2021, Tellez was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for pitchers Trevor Richards and Bowden Francis. He made an immediate impact with his new team, batting .272 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs in 174 plate appearances during the remainder of the 2021 regular season. In the postseason, Tellez delivered two critical two-run home runs against the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series, including the game-winning hit in Game 1, though the Brewers ultimately lost the series.

The 2022 season proved to be Tellez’s most productive as a Brewer. On May 4, he set a franchise record with eight RBIs in a single game, hitting two home runs, a double, and a single in an 18-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, earning him National League Player of the Week honors. He finished the season batting .219 with 35 home runs (5th in the NL) and 89 RBIs in 599 plate appearances. His maximum exit velocity of 116.9 mph ranked seventh-highest in all of baseball that year.

Tellez agreed to a one-year, $4.95 million contract with Milwaukee in January 2023. While he batted .244 with 12 home runs through June 1, his production declined significantly afterward with only one home run the rest of the season. He spent six weeks on the injured list with right forearm inflammation and then a torn fingernail and fractured left ring finger. Despite missing extended time, he pitched a scoreless ninth inning to clinch a postseason berth for the Brewers on September 22. He was non-tendered and became a free agent on November 17, 2023.

Pittsburgh Pirates (2024)

On December 15, 2023, Tellez signed a one-year, $3.2 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates with incentives that could increase his salary to $4 million. He played in 131 games for Pittsburgh, batting .243 with 13 home runs and 56 RBIs over 421 plate appearances. His maximum exit velocity of 115.5 mph ranked 20th-highest in baseball for the season, and his .998 fielding percentage was second-highest among MLB first basemen. Tellez excelled in clutch situations, batting .302 with runners in scoring position and two outs. He was designated for assignment on September 24 and released the following day.

Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers (2025)

On February 20, 2025, Tellez signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners that included an invitation to spring training. On March 25, the Mariners selected his contract after he made their Opening Day roster. He hit a home run in three consecutive games from April 18-20 against his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays, marking the longest such streak of his career. In 62 games for Seattle, he batted .208 with 11 home runs and 27 RBIs before being designated for assignment on June 20 and released on June 26.

On July 5, 2025, Tellez signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers and was assigned to the Triple-A Round Rock Express. After four games with Round Rock, he was called up to the Rangers’ major league roster on July 18 following the All-Star break. He performed better with Texas, batting .259 with six home runs in 50 games to close out the 2025 season.

Atlanta Braves (2026-Present)

On March 20, 2026, Tellez signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. He began the season with the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers, where he slashed .259/.367/.483 with eight home runs, 33 RBIs, and three stolen bases. On June 10, 2026, the Braves selected his contract, adding him to their active roster.

Driving Style and Strengths

Tellez is renowned for his exceptional power-hitting ability, consistently ranking among the leaders in exit velocity throughout his career. His maximum exit velocities have ranked in the top percentiles of major league hitters for five consecutive seasons, demonstrating his ability to drive the ball with tremendous force. He has shown particular effectiveness in clutch situations, with elevated batting averages in late-and-close scenarios and with runners in scoring position. Defensively, Tellez has proven reliable at first base, posting exceptional fielding percentages including a .998 mark in 2022 that was the best in franchise history for the Brewers.

Notable Events and Milestones

Tellez’s historic start to his MLB career stands as one of his most notable achievements, becoming the first player since 1913 to hit seven doubles in his first seven major league games. He set the Milwaukee Brewers single-game RBI record with eight RBIs on May 4, 2022. His dramatic two-run home run in Game 1 of the 2021 NLDS provided the Brewers’ only runs in a 2-1 victory over the eventual World Series champion Atlanta Braves. His 115.2 mph home run on April 11, 2019, marked the hardest-hit Blue Jays home run in the Statcast era at that time.

Ryan John Tellez Career Wins

Through June 23, 2026, Tellez has accumulated 123 career home runs and 372 RBIs across his MLB tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and Atlanta Braves. He has maintained a career batting average of .234 while establishing himself as a consistent power threat in the middle of lineups throughout his eight major league seasons.

Milwaukee Brewers Highlights

Tellez’s most productive individual performance came during his tenure with the Milwaukee Brewers from 2021 to 2023. His signature moment was setting a franchise record with eight RBIs in a single game on May 4, 2022, against the Cincinnati Reds. That performance earned him National League Player of the Week honors. He hit 35 home runs in 2022, ranking fifth in the National League, along with 89 RBIs. His playoff performance in 2021 was memorable, as he hit two crucial two-run home runs against the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS, including the game-winning hit in Game 1.

Toronto Blue Jays Highlights

Tellez burst onto the MLB scene with Toronto in 2018, making history by becoming the first player since 1913 to hit seven doubles in his first seven major league games. He finished his debut month batting .314 with four home runs and 14 RBIs. His 2019 season saw him hit 21 home runs and become the first Blue Jays player to hit 13 home runs in their first 65 major league games. His 2020 campaign featured the hardest-hit home run in Blue Jays history at that time, a 117.4 mph drive that ranked third-highest in all of baseball that season.

Other Highlights

Beyond MLB, Tellez represented Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, batting .280 with one home run and five RBIs as a designated hitter. He excelled in the minors as well, earning Midwest League Player of the Week honors in 2015, Arizona Fall League All-Prospect honors, and was rated as the best power hitter in the Blue Jays organization early in his career. His 2024 season with Pittsburgh featured a standout defensive performance with a .998 fielding percentage ranking second among all MLB first basemen.

Ryan John Tellez Family

Family Background and Baseball Lineage

Tellez comes from a baseball family through his father Greg Tellez. His paternal grandfather, John Tellez, played baseball professionally in both Mexico and Colorado, establishing baseball lineage in the family. Tellez also has a sister who has been part of his support system throughout his career. His mother, Lori, was diagnosed with stage IV melanoma in late 2016 and later battled brain cancer before passing away on August 18, 2018, just over two weeks before her son’s major league debut.

Personal Life

Tellez is of Jewish heritage through his mother, making him eligible to play for either Israel or Mexico in international competition. He chose to represent Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, explaining that the logistics were simpler as the paperwork was already in order and Mexico played their games in Phoenix, close to the Brewers’ spring training facility in Arizona. He has been invited to play for Team Israel as well but has selected Mexico for international competition. He returned to play for Mexico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic as well.

Tellez began riding dirt bikes at age three but, due to his size, switched his focus to baseball when he was 10 years old. Outside of baseball, he enjoys hunting and fishing as recreational activities. During high school, his teammate Derek Hill lived with the Tellez family for a year. Tellez served as the officiant at former Toronto teammate Danny Jansen’s wedding in 2022.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season marked a year of transition for Tellez as he navigated through multiple organizations. He began the season with the Seattle Mariners after signing a minor league contract in February that included an invitation to spring training. After making the Opening Day roster on March 25, he experienced moderate success early, hitting home runs in three consecutive games against his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays, from April 18-20. This marked the longest such streak of his career to that point.

However, Tellez’s tenure with Seattle ended after he batted .208 with 11 home runs and 27 RBIs in 62 games before being designated for assignment on June 20 and subsequently released. He quickly caught on with the Texas Rangers in early July, joining their Triple-A affiliate, the Round Rock Express. After just four games in the minors, he was called up to the Rangers’ major league roster on July 18 following the All-Star break.

Tellez found more success with Texas, batting .259 with six home runs in 50 games during his time with the Rangers. His improved performance down the stretch demonstrated his ability to contribute at the major league level despite the roster changes throughout the season. By season’s end, he had played for three different MLB organizations within the same calendar year, showcasing both the volatility of a professional baseball career and his resilience as a player.