Rubén Tejada

Rubén Darío Tejada (born October 27, 1989) is a Panamanian professional baseball infielder who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, and Baltimore Orioles.

Rubén Tejada
Tejada with the Baltimore Orioles in 2017
Free agent
Shortstop / Second baseman
Born: (1989-10-27) October 27, 1989
Santiago de Veraguas, Panama
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 7, 2010, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
(through 2019 season)
Batting average.250
Hits530
Home runs10
Runs batted in158
Teams

Early life

Tejada was born in Santiago de Veraguas in western Panama to Rubén, Sr., a mechanic, and Donaji Tejada, a secretary. Tejada also has a younger brother, Ernie.[1] Tejada grew up mere feet away from Omar Torrijos Herrera Stadium where his father was also a pitcher for Los Indios de Veraguas.[2]

Growing up, Tejada's favorite baseball players were shortstops Derek Jeter and Omar Vizquel.[1] In 2001, Tejada played for the Santiago de Veraguas Little League team which represented the Latin American region at the Little League World Series.[3] In 2003, at 13 years old, Tejada began playing for Los Indios de Veraguas’ junior team as a pitcher.[2]

Professional career

Minor leagues

Tejada signed with the Mets as an international free agent in 2006. He debuted in professional baseball in 2007. He has played for the Gulf Coast Mets, Venezuela Mets, St. Lucie Mets and Binghamton Mets. He also played for the Surprise Rafters of the Arizona Fall League.

2010

Tejada was invited to spring training with the Mets in 2010. He was the youngest position player on the Mets Opening Day roster since Tim Foli in 1971.

On April 7, 2010 he made his major league debut and went 0-for-2 with a HBP in 3 Plate Appearances. On April 9, 2010 he recorded his first major league hit off the Washington Nationals' Tyler Walker. On June 4, 2010 the Mets re-called Tejada to replace Luis Castillo. With the activation of Luis Castillo from the DL on July 19, 2010, the Mets optioned Tejada to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.[4] He was re-called on August 7, after Alex Cora was released and Jesús Feliciano was demoted to Triple A Buffalo Bisons. On September 5, 2010 in the seventh inning Tejada hit his first major league home run off Cubs pitcher Marcos Mateo on the first pitch.

For the season, he batted .213/.305/.282.[5]

2011

On May 17, 2011 Tejada was called up to play second base, thus moving Justin Turner to third base for the injured David Wright. He ended the season with a .284 batting average in 328 at-bats.[6]

2012

Once Jose Reyes signed with the Miami Marlins, Rubén Tejada became the New York Mets starting shortstop for the 2012 season. On August 1, 2012, Tejada hit his second home run in the majors against Matt Cain of the Giants, his first home run since September 5, 2010.

Rubén Tejada playing shortstop

2013

Tejada was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right quad and called up shortstop Omar Quintanilla from the Mets triple-A affiliate Las Vegas 51s to take his spot on the roster. After Quintanilla's unexpected performance however, the Mets optioned Tejada to Las Vegas.[7] For the season, he batted .202/.259/.260.[8]

2015

On October 10, 2015, during the second game of the 2015 National League Division Series, Chase Utley slid into Tejada in an attempt to break up what might have been an inning-ending double play, fracturing Tejada's right fibula in the collision. Utley was ruled safe by the umpires after a video review. The Dodgers, who were losing 2-1 at the time of the incident, rallied to win the game 5-2.[9] Major League Baseball suspended Utley for two games for his conduct "in violation of Official Baseball Rule 5.09 (a) (13), which is designed to protect fielders from precisely this type of rolling block that occurs away from the base."[10] Utley appealed the suspension and remained active for the rest of the Dodgers post-season games.[10] MLB subsequently dropped Utley's suspension on March 6, 2016, with Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre stating "There wasn't anything clear-cut to say that play violated a rule."[11]

2016

On March 15, 2016, the Mets placed Tejada on waivers,[12] and released him the next day after clearing waviers.[13]

St. Louis Cardinals

On March 19, 2016, Tejada signed a one-year contract worth $1.5 million with the St. Louis Cardinals.[14] Expected to fill in for the injured Jhonny Peralta at shortstop, Tejada himself injured his quad in the final game before the season, landing on the disabled list to begin the season.[15] Tejada was activated on April 18,[16] but the opening at shortstop was no longer there, having been filled instead by Aledmys Díaz. Tejada made his first major league appearance as a pitcher on May 20 in the ninth inning at Busch Stadium against the Arizona Diamondbacks, pitching one complete inning while allowing two earned runs, on back-to-back home runs to Chris Herrmann and Brandon Drury.[17] The Cardinals designated Tejada for assignment on May 28. He had six hits in 34 at bats.[18] Tejada declined the outright assignment, becoming a free agent.

San Francisco Giants

On June 13, Tejada signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.[19] On June 29, Tejada was called up and started at third base after Matt Duffy was put on the 15-day disabled list. On July 20, he was designated for assignment by San Francisco. For the season, he batted .156/.270/.250 with the Giants in 32 at bats.[20]

New York Yankees

On December 12, 2016, Tejada signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees.[21] On March 27, 2017, Tejada was reassigned to Minor League camp.[22]

Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles acquired Tejada from the New York Yankees for cash considerations on June 4, 2017.[23] He was assigned to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. His contract was selected by the Orioles two days later on June 6.[24] Tejada made his Orioles debut the next night against the Pittsburgh Pirates replacing an injured Manny Machado. For the season he batted .230/.293/.283 with the Orioles.[25]

On November 28, 2017, Tejada signed a minor league contract with the Orioles.[26] He elected free agency on November 3, 2018.

Return to Mets

On March 23, 2019, Tejada signed a minor league contract to return to the Mets and was assigned to Triple-A Syracuse.[27] He hit for the cycle on June 19, 2019 against the Charlotte Knights. On August 14, the Mets selected Tejada's contract.[28] On August 22, Tejada was designated for assignment. He re-signed on a minor league deal on September 1. He became a free agent following the 2019 season.[29]

Toronto Blue Jays

On January 17, 2020, Tejada signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Tejada was released by the Blue Jays organization on August 31, 2020.

International career

Tejada played for Panama's national baseball team during the 2009 World Baseball Classic and the 2013 World Baseball Classic qualifying tournament.

See also

References
  1. Crasnick, Jerry (April 24, 2012). "Ruben Tejada doing just fine for Mets". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  2. Waldstein, David (July 9, 2011). "Mets' Tejada, Ex-Neighbor of a Stadium, Now Works in a Big One". New York Times. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  3. Cahill, Teddy; Price, Mark (August 20, 2010). "Getting to Know You, Getting to Know All About You". Off the Beaten Basepath. Little League Baseball. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  4. DiComo, Anthony."Castillo Activated, freshens up Mets' lineup." MLB.com. July 19, 2010
  6. "Rubén Tejada Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio". MLB.com. August 5, 2012.
  7. "Mets place struggling shortstop Rubén Tejada on the DL, recall Omar Quintanilla from Las Vegas". NY Daily News. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  9. Ortiz, Jorge L. (October 11, 2015). "Rubén Tejada has broken fibula, Dodgers a winning rally after Utley slide". USA Today. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  10. Saxon, Mark (October 12, 2015). "Chase Utley suspended 2 games for slide into Rubén Tejada, will appeal". ESPN. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  11. Shaikin, Bill (March 6, 2016). "MLB drops suspension against Dodgers' Chase Utley after controversial slide". Los Angeles Times.
  12. "Mets place Rubén Tejada on waivers". ESPN.com. Associated press. March 15, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  13. Todd, Jeff (March 16, 2016). "Mets release Rubén Tejada". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  14. Martin, Dan (March 19, 2016). "Cardinals scoop up Ruben Tejada for possible Mets torment". New York Post. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  15. Goold, Derrick (March 31, 2016). "Tejada headed to disabled list; Hazelbaker makes opening day roster". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  16. Langosch, Jenifer (April 18, 2016). "Tejada returns from DL for utility role: Hot-hitting Diaz to remain starting shortstop; G. Garcia sent to Triple-A". stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  17. Landers, Chris (May 20, 2016). "The Cardinals called on infielder Ruben Tejada to pitch the ninth ... with extremely mixed results". MLB.com. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  18. RotoWire Staff (May 28, 2016). "Cardinals' Ruben Tejada: Designated for assignment Saturday". CBSSports.com. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  19. Grossman, Connor (June 13, 2016). "Giants sign Ruben Tejada to minor league deal". KNBR.
  21. "Yankees Sign Former Mets Infielder Ruben Tejada to Minor League Deal". nytimes.com. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  22. Kruth, Cash. "Yanks reassign Castillo, Solano, Tejada". MLB. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
  23. http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2017/06/yankees_trade_ex-met_ruben_tejada_to_orioles.html
  24. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-add-infielder-ruben-tejada-from-norfolk-designate-paul-janish-for-assignment-20170606-story.html
  26. Todd, Jeff (November 28, 2017). "Orioles Sign Jhan Marinez, Joely Rodriguez, Ruben Tejada". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  27. "Ruben Tejada returns to Mets on minor league contract". New York Post. March 24, 2019.
  28. Post Sports Desk (August 14, 2019). "Mets summoning Ruben Tejada with Jeff McNeil going on IL". New York Post. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  29. Matt Eddy (November 7, 2019). "Minor League Free Agents 2019". Baseball America. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
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