Braves gift Mariners fans a playoff rooting interest by resurfacing Rowdy Tellez

The 2026 MLB playoffs begin today. And if you had Rowdy Tellez on a bingo card of members of the 2025 Seattle Mariners who could see action this October, congratulations on somehow nailing that one, you absolute weirdo.

In what has to be the most surprising reveal of the eight Wild Card Series rosters, Tellez was chosen by the Atlanta Braves ahead of their best-of-three against the Philadelphia Phillies. The slugger had played in just seven regular-season games for the Braves, and none since June 30.

Anyone could have expected that part. Tellez is a first base/DH type, and the Braves are just fine at both spots with Matt Olson and Drake Baldwin. Those two produced 8.3 rWAR this season, whereas Tellez has produced just 0.3 rWAR… for his entire nine-year career.

What the 31-year-old can still do is take right-handed pitchers for an occasional ride. Even if he played 102 of his 109 games in the minors this year, he still ended with an .887 OPS and 16 home runs in 302 plate appearances against righties. Guys like that aren't bad to have around.

Former Mariners fan favorite gets an unexpected shot at playoff glory with Braves

No matter how the Braves end up using Tellez, it'll do for a rooting interest that he's even getting a shot at doing something in October.

His last came when he was with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021, and was ironically in the National League Division Series against the Braves. He did his part by homering twice, essentially taking his Brewers fan favorite bit national before the Braves won the series in four games.

It was after that in 2022 that Tellez experienced the high point of his career, playing in 153 games with Milwaukee and homering 35 times. Spotty production subsequently followed in 2023 and 2024, and then the first half of 2025 when he was with Seattle. He played in 62 games and hit 11 homers, but also posted a .682 OPS and -0.8 rWAR before he was cut loose.

Even so, at least Tellez was fun to watch in a Mariners uniform. That extra-innings grand slam in Toronto was sweet. And remember when he trucked Alan Roden without even trying? Classic.

With Luis Castillo too injured to pitch for the Chicago White Sox in their Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, those who are looking to root for former Mariners can focus on Ty France with the San Diego Padres against the Chicago Cubs. He seemed cooked when he was last with Seattle in 2024. He proved with an .865 OPS and 21 home runs this year that he was not, in fact, cooked.

Still, at least keep an eye on Tellez in Atlanta's series against the Phillies. Mariners fans know about the damage he can do, and it's clear the Braves do as well.

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