AquaSox pitcher ‘climbing mountain’ closer to home

Published 9:44 am Thursday, July 31, 2025

EVERETT — As Nico Tellache waited alongside his wife, Whitney, to be checked out of the hospital on March 27, his phone rang.

The couple had just welcomed their second daughter, Teagan, into the world on March 26, giving their three-year-old, Haven, a baby sister. For all the reasons Tellache — a 27-year-old professional pitcher — could be in a hospital during the offseason, this was certainly the best.

On the other end of the line was Tellache’s agent, Oscar Suarez. Tellache was just a few months removed from playing with Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Winter League (LIDOM), where the left-hander had a 2.48 ERA in 29.0 innings across eight starts during the regular season.

Suarez called to congratulate Tellache on the new addition to his family, but also to notify him that the Seattle Mariners organization was interested in signing him. After spending the past three years playing in Mexico and the Dominican Republic, the Canby, Ore. native could potentially have the chance to play close to home.

With a single phone call, a special day had the prospects of getting even better. Tellache’s initial response?

“I just kind of rolled my eyes,” Tellache said. “Just because I’ve heard that a few times in my career.”

After finishing a five-year career at the University of Oregon in 2021, Tellache spent the rest of the summer with the Ogden Raptors in the Pioneer League. He signed with Durango in the Mexican League for 2022, and played there until joining Union Laguna on June 29, 2024. He mixed in stints in the Mexican Pacific Winter League in between before playing with the Tigres this past winter season.

The Tigres reached the LIDOM championship series, where they lost in seven games to Leones del Escogido. Tellache pitched 1.1 innings in Game 7 on Jan. 27, allowing no hits, runs or walks to go with one strikeout. For his entire career, Tellache had been working toward a chance to reach the Major Leagues. Despite putting up solid numbers in Mexico each season, he never got that chance.

So after receiving that call from his agent in the hospital, he was a little skeptical. But sure enough, the next day, Suarez called again to confirm the news.

“He goes ‘Yeah, they’re going to sign you, so you know, go get after it,’” Tellache recalled Suarez telling him. “‘Just be yourself, and see where it goes.’ … Each year I’ve been throwing well, and it just hasn’t happened. And (I) thank God that the Mariners kind of gave me a chance to do that. So I was surprised, for sure, but also very excited for the opportunity.”

He signed his contract that day. It was deep into spring training by then, but as is the nature of the sport, some injuries created openings that the organization needed to fill. According to Mariners pitching strategist Ken Roberts, the team is on the lookout for players all over the map during spring training, and after taking a closer look at Tellache, different things popped out to them.

“We were like, ‘Ah, this guy’s interesting,’” Roberts said. “He throws strikes, he’s got this interesting changeup. He’s had success in the winter leagues. It’s like, why not give him a chance?”

To make things even easier, Tellache resides in Surprise, Ari., just a 15-minute drive from Seattle’s facility in Arizona. The Mariners let Tellache spend time with his family for a few weeks before bringing him in to build up for the 2025 season. He was assigned to the Everett AquaSox on April 22, and made his debut two days later.

Tellache started against the Vancouver Canadians on April 24, pitching four scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and one walk. He made five long-relief appearances in May before getting his next start on June 7, where he allowed two earned runs in 4.2 innings against the Eugene Emeralds on the same field he spent his college career.

Tellache primarily came out of the bullpen at Oregon, making just one start in his entire tenure as a Duck, which he attributed to the overwhelming starting talent on the roster over the years. However, once he became a pro, he was used primarily as a starter. In Everett, he’s getting a mix of both.

“I always thought I was a starter,” Tellache said. “But now each year, I know that I can do, you know, the long relief, one inning, start. I think that’s pretty valuable.”

And for the AquaSox, his value extends beyond the mound as one of the older players on the roster with several professional seasons under his belt. AquaSox pitching coach Matt Carasiti believes Tellache is a model for the younger players on the team.

“He’s an experienced guy,” Carasiti said. “He’s pitched in Mexico, pretty big games. It’s basically like the equivalent of Triple-A. He brings a good presence here. It’s good for the younger guys, too, to just watch him go out there and compete, and you know, pitch the way he does. He’s like a full pitcher, especially coming here adding a couple weapons.”

Those weapons — a sinker and a sweeper — are being incorporated into Tellache’s arsenal to complement his cutter, four-seam and changeup. Tellache said he has always been able to handle righties, but has a harder time getting outs against lefties. This season, righties have hit .242 against him while lefties have a .353 average against. With his new pitches, he’s hoping to bridge that gap. It’s starting to pay off.

In his latest start this past Sunday against the Spokane Indians, Tellache tossed five scoreless innings and eight strikeouts, allowing three hits and one walk. Everett held a 1-0 lead when Tellache left the mound, but eventually lost 7-4. That didn’t matter. For Tellache, it was a huge step forward.

“(Carasiti) and all the pitching coordinators are really good at their job. It’s been a good change of pace,” Tellache said. “In Mexico, you’re playing with older guys, and it’s more ‘Go get outs,’ and they don’t really care how you do it. Here, they have data and things that are going to lead you to be your best, be the best version of yourself. That’s what I really enjoyed.”

As the season goes on, Tellache is taking things day by day. For a 27-year-old pitcher in High-A, getting to the majors is a tall mountain to climb, but the Mariners plan to provide him with every rope to do so.

“I think that’s kind of like the culture that we have,” Roberts said. “It’s just like, everybody is a prospect. Everybody has a chance to pitch in the big leagues, and it’s our job to like, pull that out of them.”

Whether or not Tellache gets there remains to be seen. For now, his focus remains simple.

“Hopefully at the end of the year I can look up and say, ‘Oh yeah, I got better this year,’” Tellache said. “And (I’m) just slowly climbing that mountain.”