Junior Téllez

Junior Jose Téllez Vanegas

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 170 lb.

• Born July 1, 1990 in León, León Nicaragua

Biographical Information

Junior Téllez has pitched for the Nicaraguan national team for over a decade.

In the 2010 Intercontinental Cup, he had a 1-1, 3.38 record, leading the team with 10 2/3 IP. He lost to the Netherlands (8 H, 5 BB, 4 R, 3 ER in 5 2/3 innings) and beat Hong Kong (1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 7 K in 5 IP). He saw minimal action in the 2011 Baseball World Cup; in four games, he totaled one inning pitched, with a hit, walk, strikeout and run allowed. He pitched 1 2/3 shutout innings in the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games (1 H, 1 K).

He next appeared in the 2015 Pan American Games, struggling (4 H, 2 BB, 2 HB, 2 R in 2 1/3 IP); only José Luis Sáenz had a higher ERA for Nicaragua. In the 2016 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, he pitched one game, in the decisive contest against host Mexico. He relieved Carlos Teller in the 5th with a 8-0 deficit, one on and none out. He retired Alex Mejia and Walter Ibarra on grounders but Sebastian Elizalde singled in a run and Esteban Quiroz cracked a two-run shot. Téllez recovered to retire superstar Adrian Gonzalez. In the 6th, he retired José Amador but allowed a hit to José Aguilar. José Villegas then relieved and allowed the inherited runner to score; Junior's 20.25 ERA wound up leading Nicaragua in the event, 4.05 higher than Samuel Estrada.

The veteran right-hander got one start for Nicaragua when they won Gold in the 2017 Central American Games, facing El Salvador. He was outdueled through five by José Díaz but Nicaragua rallied in the 6th to give him a win; he allowed five hits, two runs and one walk while fanning three. He was relieved by Osman Gutiérrez. His 1.69 ERA in the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games was second on Nicaragua, behind Berman Espinoza. The story was very different in the 2019 Pan American Games when he allowed six hits, five walks and 11 runs (all earned) in 2 2/3 IP for the team's worst ERA. He was slated to be on Nicaragua's team for the 2020 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers when that event was canceled by the Coronavirus pandemic.