Mariners roster cuts are coming. Has Rowdy Tellez earned his spot?
PEORIA, Ariz. Rowdy Tellez is a big personality. Gregarious. Jokes around. Keeps the atmosphere of the clubhouse light. He showed up on his first day in Peoria wearing jean shorts and a neon shirt.
It’s a personality befitting his first name.
“Just always putting a smile on people’s faces, just being goofy,” Tellez said. “I don’t know; I’m just like a big teddy bear, I guess.”
Here’s the thing, though: It’s not his given name. Ryan John Tellez was born in Sacramento 30 years ago—his birthday was Sunday. But he was so active in the womb, his parents gave him the nickname Rowdy.
The nickname stuck. Through his youth. Through the early stages of his baseball life. Through a professional career that started in Toronto and eventually saw Tellez break out during his time in Milwaukee.
Now at age 30, and just like his adopted first name, Tellez is trying to stick again with the Mariners.
“I just thought this was a really special team from watching them; playing against them, seemed like a really good environment. And I think a big thing for me is that I wanted to be part of something that they could go all the way,” Tellez said. “So whatever they ask of me, I don’t know what they’re going to ask of me. I don’t know what it’s going to be, but I just want to be the best teammate, best player I can, day in and day out, whether that’s coming off the bench to do whatever I need to do, or playing every day.”
