Rubén Tejada

Rubén Tejada

Tejada with the New York Mets
St. Louis Cardinals – No. 19
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 2015 season)
Batting average .255
Hits 493
Home runs 10
Runs batted in 148
Teams

Rubén Darío Tejada (born October 27, 1989) is a Panamanian professional baseball infielder for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the New York Mets.

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.

New York Mets

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 up Tejada to replace Luis Castillo. The Mets won the game to a score of 4–3 against the Florida Marlins at Citi Field.

With the activation of Luis Castillo from the DL on July 19, 2010, the Mets optioned Tejada to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. He hit .212 in 104 at-bats with the Mets.[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.

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.[5]

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.[6]

2015

Tejada suffered a broken right fibula in the second game of the 2015 NLDS vs the Dodgers as a result of Chase Utley sliding into him.[7] Utley did not aim for the base but rather right at Tejada to break up a double play[7] "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."[8] Utley was suspended for two games as a result but later successfully appealed the suspension.[8]

On March 15, 2016, the Mets placed Tejada on waivers,[9] and released him the next day after clearing waviers.[10]

St. Louis Cardinals

On March 19, 2016, Tejada signed a one-year contract worth $1.5 million with the St. Louis Cardinals.[11] After starting the season on the DL, the Cardinals reactivated him on April 18.[12]

International play

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. 1 2 Crasnick, Jerry (April 24, 2012). "Ruben Tejada doing just fine for Mets". ESPN.com (ESPN). Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  2. 1 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
  5. ↑ "Rubén Tejada Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio". MLB.com. August 5, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Mets place struggling shortstop Rubén Tejada on the DL, recall Omar Quintanilla from Las Vegas". NY Daily News. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  7. 1 2 Ortiz, Jorge L. (October 11, 2015). "Ruben Tejada has broken fibula, Dodgers a winning rally after Utley slide". USA Today. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  8. 1 2 Saxon, Mark (October 12, 2015). "Chase Utley suspended 2 games for slide into Ruben Tejada, will appeal". ESPN. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Mets place Rubén Tejada on waivers". ESPN.com. Associated press. March 15, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  10. ↑ Todd, Jeff (March 16, 2016). "Mets release Rubén Tejada". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  11. ↑ Martin, Dan (March 19, 2016). "Cardinals scoop up Ruben Tejada for possible Mets torment". New York Post. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  12. ↑ 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.

External links

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