Rowdy Tellez was born and raised in California, and he has spent his entire pro career in American and Canadian ballparks.
Yet whenever the World Baseball Classic comes around, he pulls on Mexico’s green, white, and red. So why is Rowdy Tellez playing with Mexico instead of Team USA?
The short answer is family. His father, Greg, is of Mexican heritage, and his grandfather played baseball in Mexico before moving to Colorado.
That bloodline makes Tellez eligible under World Baseball Classic rules, and it is a connection he has chosen to honor twice, in 2023 and again in 2026.
Here is the full story behind his decision, from his family tree to the eligibility rules and what wearing Mexico’s colors means to him.
Who Is Rowdy Tellez?
Rowdy Tellez, whose given name is Ryan John Tellez, is a left-handed first baseman and designated hitter. He was born on March 16, 1995, in Sacramento, California.
He starred at Elk Grove High School and had committed to USC before the Toronto Blue Jays drafted him in the 30th round in 2013.
He debuted with Toronto in 2018 and has since played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves.
His best season came in 2022, when he led the Brewers with 35 home runs. He has more than 120 career big-league homers.
In 2026, Tellez signed a minor league deal with Atlanta in March, moved between Triple-A Gwinnett and the majors, and had his contract selected by the Braves again in late September.
Rowdy Tellez’s Mexican Roots
Tellez is the eldest child of Greg and Lori Tellez. His mother is Jewish, and his father comes from a family of Mexican heritage. That paternal line is what ties him to Mexico, and to baseball.
His grandfather played the game in Mexico before immigrating to Colorado. There, he kept playing with the Greeley Grays, a club formed by migrant farm workers as early as 1925. Rowdy never met his grandfather.
He learned much of that history later, through a book that told the story of his grandfather’s baseball life.
That discovery gave Tellez a deeper reason to represent Mexico. For him, it is not just about a roster spot. It is a way to carry his family name onto an international stage and honor a man who played the same game generations earlier.
His father, who signed him up for T-ball and took him to San Francisco Giants games as a kid, has been part of the decision. Tellez has said the choice carried an emotional pull from both sides of his family, and he worked through it with his dad.
How World Baseball Classic Eligibility Works
Many fans are surprised to see U.S.-born players suiting up for other countries, but the World Baseball Classic was built this way. Its eligibility rules go well beyond the passport in a player’s pocket.
A player can generally represent a nation in the WBC if he:
- Is a citizen of that country
- Was born there
- Has at least one parent who is a citizen of that country or was born there
- Is eligible to obtain citizenship under that country’s laws
- Is a permanent legal resident
Players with grandparent ties can also qualify, though those cases are reviewed one by one and require official documents.
Tellez’s Mexican lineage clears that bar, and Mexican media have reported that he holds dual nationality through his family. These broad rules are why Classic rosters are full of players honoring their heritage, and why Mexico’s 2026 team included 13 players born in the United States.
Why Tellez Chose Mexico Over Israel and Team USA
Tellez is a rare case: he was eligible for three national teams. As an American, he could have aimed for Team USA. Through his Jewish mother, he also qualified for Israel, because the WBC allows players to represent a country whose citizenship they could obtain.
Ahead of the 2023 tournament, both Israel and Mexico offered him a spot. Tellez picked Mexico, and several factors pushed him that way:
- Family history. His grandfather’s baseball career in Mexico made the connection personal.
- A familiar teammate. His Brewers teammate Luis Urías was already committed to Mexico and was seen as a big part of the pitch. Urías later said Tellez seemed a little nervous at the first practice and made it his job to help him fit in.
- Unfinished business. Mexico first offered him a roster spot in 2017, when he was a 21-year-old prospect coming off a strong Double-A season. He wanted to play then, but the timing never worked out.
- A central role. With Mexico, he projects as a primary first baseman or designated hitter in the heart of the lineup.
Choosing Mexico was never about rejecting the other side of his family. Tellez has said that wearing his family name on a Mexico jersey, and representing his relatives along with the country, means a lot to him.
Rowdy Tellez’s Record With Team Mexico
Tellez has made the most of his chances in Mexico’s colors.
2023 World Baseball Classic
Mexico produced its best run in tournament history. After a surprise opening loss to Colombia, the team beat the United States 11-5, then Great Britain and Canada.
Tellez drove in a run against Team USA, and in the 10-3 win over Canada that clinched a quarterfinal berth, he added a two-run single and a solo home run.
Mexico reached the semifinals, where Japan rallied in the ninth for a 6-5 win. Tellez finished the event hitting .280 with a homer and five RBIs.
2026 World Baseball Classic.
Tellez was a free agent in January 2026 when he committed again. Mexico announced him alongside catcher Alejandro Kirk and pitcher Taijuan Walker on a roster led by manager Benjamín Gil.
In a March 3 exhibition against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he opened the scoring with an RBI single and later blasted a 427-foot home run.
In Pool B in Houston, Mexico routed Great Britain 8-2 and Brazil 16-0 before losses to the United States and Italy ended its run.
His showing kept his name in the headlines. After the Classic, reports linked him to the Charros de Jalisco of the Mexican League before he signed with Atlanta instead.
What Playing for Mexico Means to Him
For Tellez, Mexico’s jersey is about more than one tournament. He has talked about wanting to make an impact for both Mexico and the United States, and about inspiring young players in Mexico to chase their dreams and take pride in their roots.
He also loves the clubhouse. Tellez has described a loose atmosphere where everyone teases everyone and nobody feels out of place, even in a group that mixes Mexican-born stars with U.S.-born players of Mexican descent.
Final Thoughts
So, why is Rowdy Tellez playing with Mexico? Because his family story runs through Mexican baseball.
His father’s side carries Mexican heritage, his grandfather played the game in Mexico before moving north, and the Classic’s heritage-based rules let him honor that legacy on the field.
He could have chosen Israel through his mother or chased a spot with Team USA. Instead, he has twice picked Mexico, delivering big hits in 2023 and returning in 2026 as a veteran bat.
For fans of Mexican baseball, Tellez is no outsider. He is a grandson of the game who came back to play for it.
